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The Salvation Army was out in force once again at this year’s Woolworths Carols in the Domain in Sydney on Saturday night. Whether it was on stage as part of the choir, packing and selling candle bags to raise money for homelessness, or volunteering as ushers and ticket scanners, Salvos were a visible presence during the annual Christmas showcase. “It was a cracker of a night ... best one I have been to,” said Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas. “Super proud of our folk – choir, volunteers, collectors, ushers, all-round champions!” Carols in the Domain will be televised on Channel 7 on Saturday night, 23 December (7.30pm AEDT). More than 3500 candle bags were sold on the night, with another 2500 to be distributed to various Salvos Stores this week for sale. Organisers hope to raise $100,000 for the Army’s frontline services. The candle bags were packed by more than 300 volunteers in the days leading up to Carols in the Domain. Director of Choirs Peter Hayward said it was a “huge honour” to play a key role in the event. “Thanks to everyone who came along and joined The Salvation Army and Carols in the Domain choir this year, especially to Greg Donovan for being the man who made everything about the choir happen.” Click on slideshow below for more photos:

The international leaders of The Salvation Army, General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham – who are currently in their home territory of New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa – were the special guests at the commissioning and ordination of the Ngā Kaiwawao I Te Tika / Defenders of Justice session of cadets in Wellington, New Zealand, last weekend. The Buckinghams also led Officers’ Councils and participated in the 50th anniversary celebrations of The Salvation Army Fiji. During the leaders' time in Fiji, they visited the President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere at the State House. The Buckinghams were accompanied by Commissioners Julie and Mark Campbell, Australian officers who lead the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory, and other senior Salvation Army personnel. “We are grateful for the opportunity to meet the president of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere,” said General Buckingham. “We are thankful for the privilege of meeting His Excellency the President of Fiji,” said Commissioner Julie Campbell. “The Salvation Army Fiji appreciates your support.”

There are more than 31,000 verses in the Bible and, apparently, quite a few that aren’t. I wonder if someone has ever ‘quoted’ a Bible verse to you and you’ve thought, “Hang on, that’s not in the Bible.” “As it says in the Bible,” they tell you with a high degree of authority, “God helps those who help themselves”. Well, no, the Bible doesn’t say that. At all. Anywhere. “God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.” He may well do that, but it doesn’t say that in the Bible. In fact, the quote is the opening line of a song by English hymnwriter William Cowper, written in 1773. When discussing matters of conscience and morality, you might advise someone, “This above all else, to thine own self be true,” but you’d be quoting Shakespeare (Hamlet, act 1, scene 3), not the Bible. Mischievous spirit that I am, I’m occasionally tempted to deliberately misattribute a quote to the Bible, but I’ve never quite succumbed to the temptation. It could, however, be good fun ... “Mal, I just don’t know what my future holds or how I can hope for better days.” “Well, Russell, in the Bible, it says that we just need to trust in God, he can ‘make us believe what tomorrow can bring when today doesn’t really know’.” “Yes, I guess you’re right, Mal. Thanks.” Bible? Not quite. A lyric from ‘All Out of Love’ by Air Supply. A great song from 1980. “Mal, I’ve had the best day! I had some big wins today, and I feel great!” “Nice, Deb. Sometimes we get those wonderful days like David wrote about in the Psalms when he said, ‘My feet don’t even touch the ground, I go in leaps and bounds’.” David? Psalms? Actually, Paul Kelly in his 1986 hit ‘Leaps and Bounds’. “Mal, you know I broke up with Mandy, and now I’m going out with Lyn, but I’m starting to think I should have stayed with Mandy. What should I do?” “I think, Rob, that you should have waited a bit longer before getting a new girlfriend. In Scripture, it says we have ‘restless hearts that never mend’, and I don’t think you’d really settled emotionally before commencing a new relationship.” Did I say Scripture? Sorry, I meant ‘New Kid in Town’ by the Eagles. See? This quoting from not-the-Bible can be quite creative and even helpful while at the same time being incredibly wrong. So don’t do it. After all, as the Good Book says, if you misquote Scripture, you’re clearly ‘on the highway to hell’. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

Light of the world! Hope for the world! Jesus came to show us how to live like him and for him. With all the shifting values of the world, Jesus still steps down into darkness, and he asks his followers to do the same. In this Christmas message, Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas invites us to be light, hope, and love to those around us and to share Jesus beautifully.

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? I’m currently a corps officer at South Barwon Corps (in Geelong) with my husband Clint. After previously spending a decade in support roles at a divisional office, it is great to be back at the frontline. I am grateful to be leading an intergenerational church and particularly enjoy leading gathered worship, sharing with smaller groups in prayer and Bible study and journeying with individuals to support their growth in faith and ministry. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? My favourite pastime away from ministry is travel, whether that’s down the road for a latte overlooking our stunning beaches or flying across the world to explore new destinations. For me, planning our next holiday is as much fun as the actual holiday. This year I’ve taken up an interest in family history, so I’m planning to go to northern Europe where my ancestors are from. Hopefully, I’ll also tick off a bucket list item and see the Northern Lights! 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? There are so many songs that have held meaning for me over the years; familiar old hymns as well as modern songs that express my love for God and his redeeming love for me. There are songs that will always be special to me because they relate to times in my life when I made a deeper commitment to the Lord. Yet the Psalmist reminds me to ‘sing to the Lord a new song’ (Psalm 96:1) expressing what God is doing today as we seek his Kingdom and are transformed by his love. If you tied me down to name a favourite song, I’d say anything written by Keith and Kristyn Getty. I love the richness of their lyrics, which always point to the cross of Christ. One of their recent songs, Rejoice, says ‘Throughout every season I am sure we have every reason to praise the Lord.’ I want that to always be my experience. 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? As a mum myself, I’ve often wondered what it was like for Mary to be responsible for raising the Saviour of the world. What did she see in her son as he was growing up that marked him as the Messiah? What was it like to have a celebrity in the family? How did she deal with the inner tension of pride, anxiety and wonder at all her son said and did? What happened to make her turn up that day and beg Jesus to forsake his ministry and return home? How was she able to stand watching as Jesus was unjustly accused and murdered? And I’d love to hear Mary describe how she felt when she learned that her son had risen from the grave. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? Officership is harder than it looks but also more fulfilling than you can imagine. I love being an officer. I have a clear call from God to this role and I know it’s the right path for me. A call to officership is not always easy to discern, but one thing is for sure: if you feel called to take on more responsibility for mission, any experience of church will frustrate and disappoint you until you step up to lead in some capacity. If you feel called to leadership, but you’re not sure if it’s to officership or something else, just start leading somewhere that’s connected to your passion. Take the first step and trust God to guide you towards the next. If your call is to officership, it won’t go away.

They don’t call it the ‘silly season’ for nothing. Christmas is a busy time of year. So, when God placed a request upon the hearts of a group of Salvo and Baptist Christians to bless their community with a massive act of love, they leaned into faith that he would provide time and energy needed to pull it off. BY LAUREN MARTIN The ‘Cuppy Supper Club’ is a small-group church that meets on Wednesday nights in Helensburgh, a small town surrounded by a national park south of Sydney. A partnership between The Salvation Army and the local Baptist Church, the group has met in The Cupbearer Café in the heart of the town after hours for the past two years. Participants read the Bible with one another, chat about faith and life, and do mission together. A few weeks ago, God placed a request on the heart of one of the Cuppy Supper Clubbers, Margaret Mary Bennett, to bless businesses on the town’s main street for their ongoing service to the local community. “I just got a nudge from God,” she said. So, she shared it with the group that Wednesday and the idea gained traction ... a week later, the Cuppy Supper Club met early, some inviting friends along to help, to “love-bomb” more than 50 businesses with Christmas-themed cupcakes and hand-written cards. “What do I like about the Cuppy Supper Club?” said Margaret. “I like the fellowship and the friendship. It’s a little bit of everything – faith, fun and frolics!” Fellow Cuppy Supper Clubber, Rachel, has a gift of cake decorating and brought along her piping bags to create Christmas works of art on top of the pre-baked cupcakes. “I love that our little group is able to do little things to bless the community and make people smile,” she said. “Retail is hard at this time of the year, so we are going to bless them.” One of the unique things about the Cuppy Supper Club small-group church is that it acts like a family on mission together. Every few weeks, Bibles are closed, and the group does an activity that makes a difference in the lives of others. Some weeks, Cuppy Supper Clubbers have written Amnesty International letters; other weeks, the group has gone prayer-walking, other times, a meal is cooked and packaged for delivery to people in the town who are going through a hard time. “I love this group,” said Rachel. “I love the variety of people we have here. It’s all-encompassing – anyone can come and feel loved and comfortable. It’s a safe place.”

Senior teddies gathered last week to decide who the new owners would be for all the teddies donated from the 2023 Perth Bikers’ Charity Ride. It was unanimously decided that the soft toys would be distributed to the children of clients at The Salvation Army Western Australia Transitional Support Services (TSS). The teddies will be given to the children at the clients’ Christmas party that TSS will host on 21 December in conjunction with youth support organisations Home Stretch and Morley. “This is on top of the generous donations of presents that our services have already received for our clients’ children,” said Yuri D’Amico, team leader at TSS. “These gifts will bring so much joy to the lives of young people who would otherwise be facing a difficult Christmas.” Transitional Support Services is a state-wide leaving care service that supports young people (ages 15-25) with an out-of-home care experience and walks alongside them as they continue their journey to independence. “TSS is not just about support; it is about choice,” Yuri explained. “Participation in our program is completely voluntary.” “Our passionate and dedicated youth workers provide case management, and the program also offers regular recreation activities such as camps, workshops and social activities. These activities are tailored to help young people to build a range of life skills in a way that is fun, creative and flexible. “In addition to providing a supportive environment and practical skills, TSS also focuses on empowering young people to advocate for themselves. By fostering self-advocacy, we aim to ensure that when young people step out into the world, they do so with the self-assurance to navigate it on their terms. “At TSS, young people are encouraged to be their true selves. We offer a safe space where we can form meaningful connections with both our team and peers. Together, we will strive for young people’s goals in an environment that is as focused on the future as it is on fun and friendship.”

BY ANTHONY CASTLE Membership at the thriving Perth Chinese Corps, located in the heart of Chinatown in the city, was boosted when seven senior soldiers were enrolled during an inspiring service on 10 December. The corps’ first enrolments in two years, the event saw first-generation migrants committing to faith and service in their community. Esther Ong Ng has been the Congregational Leader at Perth Chinese Corps for over eight years. “We serve the Chinese community here in Perth, with programs running throughout the week,” explains Esther. “I conducted eight classes of soldiership preparation, or what we also call discipleship classes for those who’d become part of our community. We covered the basic doctrines of The Salvation Army and the basics of what you need to know as a believer.” Multiple community groups meet in the corps building and utilise the space. The corps helps people meet the challenges of migration and negotiating the language barrier. “We reach out to a lot of the unchurched, perhaps 80 people per week,” Esther says. “Some of them come through the social programs, connecting people with lawyers, migration agents, helping people to fill out forms, giving them advice. We have different community groups here, choirs, people making use of the building.” Migrant students connect with Perth Chinese Corps regularly. There are Sunday meals after each service and small groups where first-generation migrants can come and connect, as well as a table tennis program. “We started the table tennis here three years ago,” Esther explains. “One of the people who just became a soldier had come through table tennis. He was the first to join us for it, which led to faith conversations, being at the corps for three years, and now soldiership.” Most newly enrolled soldiers have been actively volunteering with the corps for some time. Soldiership is an affirmation of faith and a commitment to the community, but it’s also a reflection of the home that people have found with The Salvation Army. “Two of the soldiers shared their testimonies on the day, with one of them saying they found a home here,” Esther says. “Soldiership can bring that pride of belonging, wearing the uniform, being part of the community. There are all these Chinese migrants, far from their homeland. They’re coming to a foreign land, so a feeling of home is something important.”

Despite the challenges faced by The Salvation Army in Russia since February 2022, ministry and corps life continue, as do social programs and community outreach. “We have Sunday worship, Bible studies, Sunday schools, youth and children’s programs and women’s ministries,” explains Major Svetlana Sharova, Russia Territory Chief Secretary. “In some areas, we also have feeding programs for the homeless and needy, shoes and clothes for children, sport, haircuts and ministry to the elderly.” Through the help of local donors and volunteers, as well as creativity in raising funds to become self-supporting, The Salvation Army continues to serve people in need. Officers and corps leaders meet online for prayer each week and can participate online in Salvation Army European networks. Corps have been financially sustained throughout 2023. Challenges The difficulties, though, are real. Two corps have closed. Not all officers have received their allowances and many work outside the Army and serve the corps after hours. Staff numbers have reduced from 38 to five. Projects are on hold because funds cannot be accessed and there has been a dramatic reduction in income. The financial situation for 2024 is extremely uncertain, including support for retired officers. Properties incur significant maintenance costs and are being rented out. The sale of some properties is also being planned. “We are praying – and ask for prayers – that God will open new ways for the ministry of The Salvation Army in Russia,” shares Svetlana. “Our people remain positive and faithful, and we rely on God for the future.” Salvos snapshot Below we take a brief look at some of the corps around Russia – their ministries, blessings and challenges, and prayer requests: MOSCOW “We are grateful to the Lord, that, despite the limited finances, not a single ministry or program has been closed. We are grateful for the faithfulness of local officers,” say Corps Officers Captain Oleg and Major Olesea Nikolaev. The funds from the Self-Denial Appeal 2022 and local donations have enabled the Moscow Social Centre to stay open. The homeless can wash clothes, find new ones, eat hot meals, have a haircut and hear the Good News. “Our social centre embodies the principals of ‘Soap. Soup. Salvation,” says Olesea. The corps holds a ‘Salvation’ meeting every Wednesday, followed by a meal. Many older people, and those in difficult situations, attend the meeting to sing, glorify God and pray together. Men’s fellowship takes place twice monthly and is a time for the men to pray together for personal and corps needs. The women also meet monthly for craft and cooking together. Children regularly participate in festive Sunday services and the newly formed Scouts patrol group. The corps also runs an active prison ministry – writing letters and sending parcels to prisoners they would normally visit. Most churches can no longer visit prisons. “Our difficulties include having no youth, and no additional tenants to help finance the corps and its ministries,” shares Oleg. “We ask for prayers for new people and soldiers, for growth in holiness, for guidance from the Holy Spirit for the development of the corps and all its ministries, and for financial provision for the corps.” ELISTA The Elista Corps is located 1368km south-east of Moscow. The corps continues to worship and fellowship together. Corps members are active in social and sports ministry, and, through faithful offerings and tithes and donor assistance, help disadvantaged children with clothes and shoes. “We are grateful to the support and prayers of church friends, the development of ministries, and that our people are growing in Christ, in his Word and in unity,” shares Marina Smirnova, Corps Leader. “Salvationists, though, face personal challenges, and some have moved to other cities. There is general unrest within the local community due to external factors. And we need to identify and train new leaders in the corps. “We pray for strength in Christ, to trust God, for new people being saved and for self-support and donors to help develop and maintain corps ministries.” MURMANSK This city in Russia’s far north, above the Arctic Circle, is 1936km north of Moscow, but only 108km from the border with Norway and 182km from the border with Finland. “Despite the difficulties, our small community has become more united,” say Corps Officers Captains Alexander and Svetlana Bogdanov. “The Spatex thrift store is a huge support for the corps, although its sales have greatly decreased.” The main ministries and programs of the corps continue. These include clothing distribution to the needy, a small youth ministry where young people study the Bible, go camping, pray and testify to others about God, and just have fun together. The ‘Homecoming’ program, open to anyone, includes a Bible message, meal and the use of shower facilities. “Our prayer needs are for the leaders and soldiers of the corps, the development of youth and children’s ministries, for new soldiers and adherents, for wisdom in the development of the corps, for new sources of income and self-support, for the opportunity to reach as many people in need as possible, and for the development of Spatex and men’s and women’s ministries,” Captains Bogdanov shared. ST PETERSBURG In Russia’s ‘second city’, Corps Officers Lieutenants Alexander and Yulia Krasov and their team, continue to face challenges. These include the withdrawal of financial support and the departure of many young people from the country. Despite these struggles, “We continue to serve with the forces and means that are available to us,” shares Yulia. “We continue our spiritual work and social services. Our church continues to be an open and friendly community for all without discrimination. We are a spiritual family, and we grow spiritually together, pray together, worship together, study the Bible, fellowship, and support each other in difficult times.” Corps programs include clothing distribution, children’s ministries, and a children’s shoes project – made possible by a private sponsor who donated funds for The Salvation Army to purchase shoes for children in need. Volunteers continue to buy, prepare, and distribute food, and to interact with those who are part of the feeding program. One volunteer, Svetlana, has now become a soldier of The Salvation Army! The corps also runs a self-supported art therapy project, through which people are also introduced to the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army. “This program is now more relevant than ever,” says Yulia. Scouting is the children’s favourite program. This year, new volunteers came to teach skills to the children. “Please pray for local leaders and volunteers as we have no employees, for new people, for God’s vision to further develop the corps and for new sources of income and self-support,” shares Yulia. “We pray for strength, inspiration and enthusiasm for those who remain faithful in our corps.” PETROZAVODSK In this northern corps, 1026km north-west of Moscow, praise and worship services, Bible studies, working with youth and community outreach, continue. “There is a great team of local leaders in the corps,” say Lieutenants Konstantin and Oksana Rubannikov, corps officers. “People are coming to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour, we are building good relationships with other churches in the city, people are faithful with tithes and offerings, and our ministry is growing and developing. “We do have challenges, including a lack of youth leaders, financial uncertainty and finding new ways of ministry. “We pray, and ask for prayers, that people continue to grow in their relationship with God; for our corps leaders; guidance in planning our ministry; self-support for the corps, especially in the long winter when utility bills are high; and that vulnerable children in the city can come to our corps. Thank you!” ROSTOV-ON-DON Rostov on Don is 1077km south of Moscow and just under 100km from the border with Ukraine. “We continue the work of Christ in Russia, even in these difficult times,” say Lieutenants Eugenii and Oxana Bespalov, corps officers. “We are more united that ever and the sudden change in the work of the church has taught us to trust God more and know that his miracles are with us every day.” Ministries at Rostov-on-Don include children’s and women’s ministries, home groups, work with refugees and a worship group consisting of African students. “Please pray for new people, for our ministries, our work with refugees and for us as a church to search for and see God in the new reality but to choose not to be disappointed or to close.” In Volgograd, 969km south-east of Moscow, The Salvation Army partners with a Christian fund to run a program for the elderly. The corps leader is Nana Shuvarinova. VORONEZH Voronezh is 514km south of Moscow. The corps leader is Kira Sutolkina.  “We are grateful to the Lord that in 2023, the corps continued to serve, despite the difficulties encountered,” says Kira. “Our women come together for creative work, master classes and prayer. We also hold meetings and meals for older people. Everyone can participate in our Sunday services. Children also participate in our festive services, Sunday school and in social programs.” Funds from the Self-Denial Appeal 2022, and local donors, have enabled the feeding program to continue. Clothes are also distributed to those in need. “Please pray for new people, and for youth; for finances for our ministries and programs; for opportunities for evangelism; for spiritual guidance in developing our corps and ministries; for our prayer ministry; and for local officers.”

It’s a regular Tuesday morning at Eastlakes Corps in Belmont, south of Newcastle (NSW). Café 360 is open, and a few people sit around tables. Doorways volunteers are chatting with emergency relief clients. One volunteer strums a tune on her ukulele, adding a relaxed vibe to the space. Tuesdays are emergency relief days at the corps, and volunteers serve hand-in-hand with employees to create the best experience possible for the community members who access the corps for assistance. James Edmonds, a Salvos Doorways case worker, and Krysti Prytz, a Salvos Homelessness case manager, both work from Eastlakes each Tuesday. Corps Officers Auxiliary-Lieutenants Bernie and Terri Muendel love having them as part of the fabric on this day. “We have a number of people who are living in their cars, and they come here and do their washing and have a cuppa,” says Terri. “It’s so great to have a homelessness support worker to refer them to so that they can get the specialist support they need, whilst our corps staff and volunteers support them with kindness, food, a listening ear and invitations to the different programs that we offer.” A queue is forming in the foyer, with people lining up to put their names down to shop at the food pantry. This queue is intentional – people used to all race in at once, grab what they wanted and race out. It was a bit chaotic. This queue means that the team takes three people into the pantry at a time, they get to know their names, connect with them, and community members have less stress as they can take their time choosing what they need. The queue dissipates once names are taken as the people start to mill together, chatting while they wait, sitting on lounges in the foyer, making connections, or having coffee at the café. The café, which opened at the start of 2022, has a pay-it-forward system whereby members of the public can donate so that community members who come to the corps for assistance can have a free beverage of their choice. “To have a café that serves the community had been something we had dreamed of and prayed for,” says Terri. “When we found the right person to lead the café team, things just fell into place.” That person is Rani Prassad-Ferris – the Café 360 Team Leader – who started as a volunteer and pulled together a team of volunteers to get the café running. “Rani is so good!” Terri beams. “She has gathered this amazing team, and they work so well even when Rani can’t be here.” The team is an eclectic group of volunteers comprised of retired doctors, a retired anesthetist, a retired school principal, corps members and some mutual obligation volunteers. Terri says they work brilliantly together. Salvation Army Volunteer Resources Advisor Emily Blackstock recently visited the centre and said she was overwhelmed with the way that she saw all streams of The Salvation Army working together. “I realised what I was seeing and experiencing was true community,” Emily said. “When Terri stood up before the lunch service and prayed a blessing over everyone present, the whole room resounded with a big ‘AMEN!’ “This is church!” The auditorium, where church services are held, has its doors wide open despite no activity or service being held inside. “We never want anyone to think the doors to God’s house are closed to them,” says Terri.

BY NAOMI SINGLEHURST As a young mum who volunteered at her local Salvos corps to sort Christmas gifts, Julia arrived ready to pop her (then) toddler Isabelle on a mat with some toys of her own to keep her occupied while she did what she could to help. But Julia was in for a surprise. Even as a toddler, Isabelle started enthusiastically pulling gifts out of bags and helping carry them to their designated areas. Now aged nine, Isabelle and her six-year-old sister Zoe remain enthusiastic Salvos Christmas volunteers. Julia says volunteering and serving together has enriched the family more than she could have imagined. Last Christmas, Julia and her daughters were among more than 20,000 volunteers who, together with Salvos workers, sorted and distributed gifts, vouchers and hampers. Although aged only nine and six, Isabelle and Zoe overflow with enthusiasm when they talk about helping other kids who might not otherwise have food or gifts over Christmas. “I think others should do [volunteering] too,” says Isabelle. “It shows how much you care about others and makes them feel appreciated and loved and cared for. It makes their day brighter. I’d be sad if we woke up with no presents. I don’t want other kids to feel like that – including us.” Zoe wholeheartedly agrees with her sister, saying, “I like helping others. It’s good to do, and it’s nice.” Helping with Salvos Christmas and the Army’s Red Shield Appeal every year, Julia says her girls have learned that volunteering and helping others can mean sacrifice. “They helped first with the physical doorknock and then, as it turned digital in 2020, doing fitness fundraising challenges as a family. In 2023, everything was themed around 100 and the girls did 100km of walking throughout the month of May. “There were days when it was tough. They were tired. They got sick at one point, or it was cold outside. A borrowed treadmill meant they could walk even on rainy days, and they kept committed to the end goal.” “You are far more blessed, enriched and get so much joy when caring for others.” Julia says she and her family are looking forward to volunteering again as a family this Christmas. Julia and her husband are so happy Isabelle and Zoe are committed to helping others. They now actively and enthusiastically look for ways to care for others and show random acts of kindness. “You should never underestimate what kids can do just because they are young,” Julia says. “They love helping at Christmas time to sort the toys because it’s fun, but also because they recognise how much they have and how other kids don’t have that. They also love Jesus and know that the Bible calls us to do good works out of our love for Jesus. “The good thing about volunteering is that you don’t need to have a lot to be able to give. It doesn’t cost anything except time to stand next to a Salvation Army sign and collect donations. It doesn’t cost anything to sort out toys at the collection sites. But it gives the person volunteering so much satisfaction, and it blesses others in immeasurable ways. “As parents whose kids also volunteer, my husband and I try to teach our children to have gratitude and be grateful for what they have. Today’s world encourages a mindset of ‘more’ and ‘must have’ and ‘never enough’. That isn’t healthy. It’s important to us to live with gratitude and be thankful for our blessings. “And as a family, we have learned the secret of volunteering. You set out to give something to others, and as a family that follows Jesus, this is so important. But the thing you discover is, you are far more blessed, enriched and get so much joy when caring for others.”

“It doesn’t seem like a year since the Doorways team came in and transformed our lives here in the Riverina, but we thank God for them every day,” said Auxiliary-Lieutenants David and Valerie Hopewell, Wagga Wagga Corps Officers. “The team came in as a pilot program and were an answer to many prayers and a testimony to the faithfulness of God. They are doing an amazing job, networking with the other service providers and seeing many community members each day.” And needs are many in Wagga. Like many areas throughout the country, there is a rental crisis, energy costs are high, the price of groceries continues to rise, and the impact of extreme temperatures. Through Doorways, Wagga Wagga locals and those from smaller communities around the Riverina can access emergency relief, casework, referrals and the low-cost pantry. “Here at the corps, we have been able to collaborate with the Doorways team and refer to each other, creating ‘faith pathways’ to transform lives,” said the Hopewells. “Literal life-changing interactions have occurred as a result of this gifted, hardworking and dedicated team.”