The Listening Project began in 2019 and involved interviewing 33 young people who had found faith through The Salvation Army after experiencing hardship and injustice in their lives. By ANTHONY CASTLE The National Youth and Young Adults Team spoke with young people about their worlds in 2019 for a research project that gathered the lived experience of adolescence. Three years (and one pandemic) later, youth and young adults specialist John Marion sat down to speak to them again to see how their worlds have changed and what it means for the adults who support them. National Youth and Young Adults Specialist John Marion. “First, we sit down and have a conversation,” explains John Marion, youth specialist with the National Youth and Young Adults Team. “Rather than run a consultation about our services, we start with the young people and ask, ‘tell us about your life; what matters to you?’ It’s about understanding their circumstances.” Lived experience research is built on the idea that to support young people, we must first understand their world. The research began in 2019 as The Listening Project, as codesign process for the Youth and Young Adults Team. John interviewed about 33 young people, 12 -25 years old, who embodied the vision of The Salvation Army; young people who had experienced hardship and injustice but had their lives transformed by the love of Jesus. “Lived experience is built on the notion that the best people to tell us about young people are the young people themselves,” John explains. “Young people have particular insights into their worlds. We go and listen to them, not just the things we want to hear but the things that matter to them.” “Adults don't have to give you a Ted Talk after. They just have to let you know that they understand what you're saying. They don't need to give you a speech about what I can do better. I just need you to hear what I'm feeling. It’s not a made-up thing. It's what I'm feeling.” - interviewee 1 The lived experience research was conducted in every state, from the city to the country, and from different corps expressions. The process was intended to continue year-to-year but was disrupted due to COVID restrictions. Assisted by James Gallagher, Resource Coordinator for the Youth and Young Adults Team, the research recommenced last year and revisited 12 of the same young people first interviewed, with 55 participating. “Second time around, we wanted to see if their lived experience had changed from 2019-2022,” says John. “Young people recognised that they missed out on a lot, with the teenage years being so transient. Some young people felt the pinch of ‘I can’t see my friends’.” COVID-19 had significant negative effects on Australia's young people . Young people have experienced higher rates of psychological distress, loneliness, educational disruption, unemployment, housing stress and domestic violence. The lived experience research revealed that experiences of COVID were conflicting for many young people, with positive and negative effects. “The interesting thing was how it was seen as a positive time for young adults due to the increase in payments,” John reflects. “For others, it meant deeper relationships. Others lost a sense of plan or purpose with their life. Anti-vax sentiment caused stress on families too.” “The lockdowns made it very hard with my mental health with everything I was going through. So, a couple of times, I would go for a walk, and I was pulled up by the police, and I just said, "I'm just going for a walk. I live here." - interviewee 2 While COVID has been a time of unprecedented disruption, the lived-experience research has highlighted that some perspectives haven’t changed much for young people. The core experiences of adolescence remain the same. “In many ways, the research confirmed what we already knew,” John says. “Young people want responsibility, but they also want support. Independence isn’t the same thing as being abandoned. They want caring adults, they want mentors, they want people to cheer them on. Young people haven’t rejected the adult world, they feel abandoned by it.” “We need guidance on how to do stuff, but we don't need you to do it for us or tell us how to do it. We need to find our way of doing it. And just because we can't do something perfectly doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to do it at all.” - interviewee 3 The lived experience research underpins the spiritual framework of the Youth and Young Adults Team, a theological curriculum that informs all the resources, events, and campaigns the team oversees. “In our society, we decide that young people can’t be trusted to make decisions, explains John. “That they don’t know better, that we know more, but when you sit down and have a conversation with young people, you can invite them to shape the future. We now have a group of young people who can speak into challenges and ideas for youth work.” The lived experience research has shaped the development of young people for the last four years and will, for the foreseeable future, involve young people and practitioners as the research continues. “COVID changed things between 2019 and 2022,” Johns says. “But what young people are saying isn’t much different; they just want to be heard. It’s up to us to start a conversation and keep it going.” The final report on the lived experience research will be available from the National Youth and Young Adults Team later in 2023.

(From left) Captain Fouzia Mubarik and Nuria Gonsalves (The Salvation Army, Ann Sheehan (Soroptimist International), Nasiba Akram (Host International) and Maryam Popal Zahid (Afghan Women on the Move) at the launch of the ‘Stitching Dreams’ project at Blacktown City Salvos. By LAUREN MARTIN A unique women’s social enterprise project has been launched at Blacktown City Salvos in western Sydney. ‘Stitching Dreams’ brings together women from culturally diverse backgrounds to learn how to sew marketable products to sell them. Women from all different cultural backgrounds attended the launch of ‘Stitching Dreams’ at Blacktown City Salvos in early March. The project has been organised by The Salvation Army’s Nuria Gonsalves, CALD Community Engagement National Lead in the Intercultural and Disability Inclusion Team. She collaborated with Afghan Women on the Move, Soroptimist International and Host International to bring it together. Blacktown Corps Officer Captain Fouzia Mubarik said around 40 people attended the launch on 15 March. Area Officer Major Robyn Black speaks at the launch of ‘Stitching Dreams’. The ‘Stitching Dreams’ project will begin on 1 May, with women attending the corps weekly to learn stitching techniques and work on their projects. Fouzia says she’s excited to attend the project every week and assist and strengthen connections between the corps and those involved. “They are also invited to participate in activities at Blacktown Corps if they are interested,” said Fouzia.

ADCO volunteers construct new play equipment at a Salvation Army accommodation service in Sydney during a recent company ‘Give Back’ day. By LAUREN MARTIN A recent ‘give back’ day by employees of Australian Building Construction Company (ADCO) has revitalised a number of Salvation Army centres in inner Sydney. ADCO Constructions is an Australian-owned construction company that values community engagement. The company’s staff commit more than 1000 hours to support local communities every year. Last month, a team visited several inner-Sydney Salvation Army centres. ADCO volunteers constructing new beds at a Salvation Army accommodation service in inner Sydney. “Community is an integral part of the ADCO story, and for over 50 years, we have actively engaged with charities, community groups and like-minded businesses to create a positive impact across Australia,” said ADCO Managing Director Neil Harding. At The Salvation Army’s Samaritan House service for women experiencing homelessness, ADCO volunteers undertook repairs and constructed new furniture and a barbeque for the outdoor area. At the Army’s Foster House service for men experiencing homelessness, the team removed old furniture and constructed new furniture and undertook repairs. And a transitional accommodation service for women and children received a backyard upgrade, with ADCO volunteers constructing play equipment and garden beds. Lorraine Ingram is The Salvation Army’s regional Family and Domestic Violence manager. She said the ADCO team were incredible – “we are still amazed by how much was achieved!” ADCO volunteers remove old furniture from a Salvation Army accommodation service in inner Sydney during a company ‘Give Back’ day. The ADCO volunteers were able to build an entire children’s play centre at our women and children’s refuge,” she said. “The team worked diligently through the sun and the driving rain to provide a safe, happy space for our children to freely play, laugh and enjoy an outdoor space that came to life thanks to the team at ADCO.” “[At] our women’s refuge, it was such a wonderful surprise to have a brand-new barbeque bought and set up for us on the rooftop too – we are very excited for all the food-based activities we can put on with the women now that we have this very generous donation from the team.” The ADCO team also spent time at The Salvation Army’s Foster House for men experiencing homelessness. The Inner City Homelessness Services Team Leader, Clancey Rae, said everyone was thrilled with the results: “ADCO supported us in achieving goals that were financially unobtainable for our service. ADCO engaged compassionately and professionally with our team and the people we support.”

New soldiers and friends at the Canterbury Salvos soldiership enrolment ceremony in March. Photos: Captain Steven Haworth By LAUREN MARTIN Eleven new soldiers have been sworn in at Canterbury Salvos in south-west Sydney following an increase in evangelism by corps members. Over the past three years, 35 members of Bankstown, Burwood, Campsie and Hurstville Corps have been trained to share the gospel through a program called Evangelism Explosion. As a result, 75 people committed their life to Christ, and more than half of those people began attending a Salvation Army corps. One of those was Ou, who was recently enrolled as a Salvation Army soldier at a Canterbury Salvos enrolment ceremony in Bankstown on 19 March 2023. Ou said that while she considered herself a Christian for a number of years, she formally became a Christian in 2021 when an Evangelism Explosion outreach group shared the gospel with her. “From 2021 to 2022, she joined our online discipling group for 40 weeks,” said Bankstown Corps Officer Captain Frank Wang, “She then became a trainee in Evangelism Explosion 2022 training.” New Salvation Army soldiers – Pamela, Andriana and Anthony – with NSW/ACT Divisional Commander Captain Kim Haworth. Ou said during the Evangelism Explosion course, she grew deeper in her spiritual life and personal relationship with God. “It also helped me to learn how to share the gospel.” Whilst volunteering for the Red Shield Appeal last year, she felt called to become a Salvation Army soldier. “I witnessed the trust, respect and appreciation from the wider community, which caused me to want to become a soldier in The Salvation Army.” Now, she’s on fire for Christ, actively participating in discipleship huddles, church fellowships and serving in church ministries. “I intentionally share the gospel by being a witness for Jesus, helping others to know Jesus through the knowledge and experienced I gained in EE [Evangelism Explosion] training,” she said. Captain Kim Haworth and Captain Frank Wang lead the enrolment ceremony. Also sworn in as a soldier was Pamela, who arrived in Australia from Lebanon in June last year. A talented singer and poet fluent in three languages, Pamela had been helping at the Bankstown Corps’ Doorways ministry when she decided to explore soldiership. During the Soldiership ceremony, she shared the following poem: New Beginnings 4/1/2023 Cycles dusking, new ones dawning Journeys closing, new world calling Bells are ringing, angels singing Time for healing and forgiving Release the old, embrace the new Heaven’s got it all planned for you The eye in the sky is watching Battling, breaking and matching Your pain will soon turn to blessing There’s no more worrying or stressing Your losses will turn to winnings Endings are bur new beginnings During the ceremony, 11 new soldiers were sworn in, 10 from Bankstown Corps and one from Campsie Corps.

Did you know that a nominee can decline to become a candidate for General without any explanation required or expected? “A nomination is not an appointment – it is but an exploratory part of the process of spiritual discernment, and it is right that person concerned should be part of that process,” said the late General John Larsson. For information and regular updates and interviews on the upcoming High Council, click here . Guide to a High Council, click here

Easter is an important time for God’s people. This week, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas shares a message about the beautiful exchange of Jesus Christ. An exchange that brings beauty instead of ashes and an exchange that sets us free.

Corrective Services NSW recently awarded medals of appreciation to all staff and chaplains, including Salvation Army prison chaplains, at state-run centres, for their support and dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Wayne Cook proudly displays the COVID medal he, and other Salvation Army prison chaplains, received. “The NSW/ACT Correctional Chaplains (prison chaplains) have been at the forefront in correctional centres in both NSW and the ACT supporting staff and inmates during these days,” said Wayne Cook, Team Leader - Prison Chaplains – NSW/ACT Chaplaincy. “Correctional Chaplaincy in NSW and the ACT were never excluded from any centre during the pandemic. We have always been encouraged to attend the centres to support staff and inmates as we all tried to navigate this virus as it went through our communities. Prisons were no different. So, for our chaplains, it has been ministry as usual. What an amazing blessing this has been.” In previous years, correctional chaplains only received medals for years of service. “Because of the work that the chaplains did over this (COVID) time, and are still doing, supporting staff and inmates alike, the Commissioner for Corrections NSW awarded the COVID Medal to chaplains as well,” explained Wayne. "It has been a privilege to receive this medal."

A little girl at the Twilight Zoo Festival in Adelaide has all her dreams come true by having her photo taken with ‘Frozen’ characters Elsa and Anna and Olaf the snowman. Below: More photos from the event. By CLIFF WORTHING Creating a festival atmosphere again proved a winner for The Salvation Army in Adelaide, with a record 3000 people attending the annual Twilight Zoo Festival on 18 March. The night included cultural dances, musicians, prizes, Disney princesses, a human butterfly and Shieldy, The Salvation Army mascot. “This is a community-focused missional event that enabled The Salvation Army in South Australia to connect with people from all walks of life,” said Liv Hateley, Events Coordinator, SA/NT Mission Support Team. “Connecting through music, nature, Disney princesses and conversation – energised by popcorn, lollipops and fairy floss – created an absolutely incredible atmosphere.” It was the third year the SA/NT Division Mission Department organised the Twilight Zoo Festival. Adults paid $10 per ticket, but children under 18 were free, making it affordable for many families. Many attendees commented that it was the first time in many years they could afford to go to the zoo and thanked the Salvos for paying particular attention to the children. “Thank you so much. It was a great experience. These kinds of things are so financially out of reach for so many families now. It’s a wonderful opportunity for many,” said one parent, Leah. Meg Webb, CALD Missional Development Lead, Intercultural and Disability Inclusion Team, organised cultural groups such as the Ukrainian and Bhutanese-Kirat communities as well as a faith community whose members are from Burundi, Congo and Ethiopia to perform with dancing and singing. Pride in their respective cultures and wishing to showcase them to the community was an important motivation behind performing at the zoo festival. “We loved being here, seeing the wonder on the children’s faces, and how happy they were,” said Bernadette Belej, volunteer secretary for the HOPAK Ukrainian Dance School. “People just love the costumes. We were proud to showcase our Ukrainian culture and support the Salvos who have supported us at this difficult time, and provide fun to families.” “We wanted to honour the different cultures, not just focus on diversity,” Meg said. “Dance and music are such a part of each of them. They were able to celebrate their culture, and they received a really positive reaction from everyone.” Attendees received a QR code magnet that advertised programs run by local corps. Liv reported that 480 families indicated they wanted to know more about the programs and events that are run locally. About 84 per cent of attendees had no prior connection with The Salvation Army. “It was really lovely seeing all these families so happy spending the evening with each other at the zoo. I'm very grateful to The Salvation Army for providing an opportunity like this for so many,” said another attendee, May.

By COLONEL WINSOME MERRETT Dear friends, As a teenager, I attended a corps Easter camp on a farming property in Katherine, Northern Territory. I have two vivid memories from that camp. The first was walking into the large cool room to collect food because, for a very short time, you would feel cool. The second was the camp’s theme, ‘In the shadow of the cross’. The cross is a symbol of pain and death, yet to symbolically sit in the shadow of the Easter cross brings to mind a myriad of thoughts and emotions for me: A deep gratitude for the gift offered through all the cross represents: the offering of a second chance, a new life, of life transformation, and the reality of mercy and forgiveness available to me every day. It brings to life the concept of grace , the undeserved favour of God, freely and unconditionally given so I might know life and know it abundantly. A reminder of how extravagantly God loves humankind to come to the edge of his divinity and knock on our human hearts and ask, “May I come in?” It highlights any sense of entitlement as such a gift is utterly extravagant, and in the words of the hymn written in the 1700s, it ‘casts contempt on all my pride’. Major Bram Cassidy, an Area Officer in the Victorian Division, recently reminded me that “proximity alters perception”. Sitting figuratively in the shadow of the cross opens the possibility of new insights and grasping God’s amazing love for each of us in fresh ways. This Easter, I invite you to position yourself in the shadow of the cross and to reflect and consider the response of your heart and mind to the experience. May it leave your heart warm with gratitude to God and the desire to deepen your faith in the One who personified grace. God bless you each, Colonel Winsome Merrett Chief Secretary

Echuca-Moama Corps Officer Aux-Lieut Sonia Edwards (third from left) and representatives of other denominations in town promoting the Walk of Witness on Good Friday. Photo courtesy of Gregor Mactaggart Echuca-Moama Corps Officer Auxiliary-Lieutenant Sonia Edwards will join 10 other representatives from churches in the northern Victoria town for its annual Walk of Witness on Good Friday. The parade departs at 10.30am from the Echuca-Moama Uniting Church and winds its way around a block in the town before finishing back at the church for refreshments. “Anyone is welcome to be a part of it. We actually had a few tourists take part last year,” Sonia said. The Walk to Witness has a proud history stretching back two decades. The churches involved are The Salvation Army, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Christ Church Anglican, St Aloysuis, Echuca-Moama Uniting Church, New Life Baptist, Epicentre Church, Echuca Community Church, Lifesource Church, Trinity Lutheran Church and the Church of Christ. The relationship between the local churches is a healthy one, with the ministers meeting regularly. Information courtesy of the Shepparton News

Konverse Dance Crews, an outreach ministry expression of the Barking (Greater London) Corps will lead part of worship time during the High Council. Leaders from around The Salvation Army world will gather at Sunbury Court, London, in May as the High Council begins the process of electing the 22nd General of the international church and charity. Commencing on Saturday 20 May at Westminster Central Hall in London, a public welcome to the High Council will also incorporate a farewell to General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (World President of Women’s Ministries) as they enter retirement. Following the public welcome, members of the High Council – comprising all active female and male officers holding the rank of commissioner who are in territorial leadership or national or International Headquarters’ (IHQ) appointments, along with colonels who are territorial leaders – will convene in worship, reflection and discussion as they work towards prayerfully electing the next General. Prayer, praise and thanksgiving The public welcome meeting will commence, appropriately, with the words of former General John Gowans’s song ‘They shall come from the east, they shall come from the west’, and will also serve as a recognition of the significant contributions made by General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle as international leaders since August 2018. Invited guests, IHQ staff and Salvationists from around the world will participate, either in person or virtually, to lead the congregation in a time of united prayer, praise and thanksgiving. Other participating groups from a range of creative arts will include: • African Praise Fellowship Zimbabwe – created by a Salvationist who migrated from the African country to the United Kingdom, has been active in ministry since 2002 and was officially recognised as a fellowship by the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory in 2022. • Konverse Dance Crews – which has its roots in Barking (Greater London) Corps. Its outreach ministry offers classes for parents and employment for young people to express themselves through dance, developing their confidence and well-being. • International Staff Band and International Staff Songsters – their music flows from their mission to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ and their love of God, seeking to inspire others to worship him also. Complementing these groups will be the IHQ praise worship team along with representatives from Southwark Corps, where the General and Commissioner Rosalie have served as soldiers during their time as international leaders. During the days of the High Council, regular news bulletins will be posted on the IHQ website and our social channels. Guide to a High Council, click here

Fairfield Corps Officers Auxiliary-Lieutenants Katharine and Russell Brown (second from right) visited Fairfield Salvos Store, including Julie Bryce (far left) and her team, to foster a greater connection between the two Salvation Army expressions. By LAUREN MARTIN When Captain Winnie Ng was a corps officer in her last appointment, she thought God had blessed her with the perfect job. Now, she’s a Salvos Stores chaplain and thanking God for another perfect role! As a Salvos Stores chaplain in south-west Sydney, Winnie is passionate about connecting corps with their local store and seeing God at work through collaboration in mission. Captain Winnie Ng loves her role as a chaplain for Salvos Stores in south-west Sydney. This week she was doing what she loves best – taking corps officers and mission leaders to their local store and introducing them to team members. In the Canterbury Bankstown area, Bankstown Corps Officers Captains Belinda Zhou and Frank Wang visited Yagoona and Bankstown stores, handing out Easter eggs and chatting about the meaning of Easter to staff and volunteers. Fairfield Corps Officers Auxiliary-Lieutenants Katharine and Russell Brown visited their local store and had a chance to pray with the team and have conversations with shoppers. “Easter is a good time to give them some Easter eggs, and then I thought it would be more meaningful if the corps officer comes and talks a bit about what they’re doing at Easter and invites people. And just to continue to sow seeds,” said Winnie. Winnie is passionate about different expressions of The Salvation Army working together and regularly encourages Salvationists to volunteer or at least visit their local store regularly to browse, donate and get to know people there. “It’s not hard to have conversations with people at our Salvos Stores; there are a lot of opportunities.” Frank Wang’s team from Bankstown Corps, Belinda, Anthony and Pam, enjoyed an Easter visit plus a special shopping time at Yagoona Salvos Store with Jennifer Lahodiuk and her team. One small example occurred when Winnie visited one of her stores and discovered that a regular shopper had experienced a bereavement. She was able to care for the woman and pray with her. This week, when she visited with Easter gifts for store staff and volunteers, she made an extra gift for the community member she had connected with and wrote her a card. She has asked the manager to pass it on the next time she is in the store. “There are a lot of opportunities – our team members, they are connecting with the community and from there is an opportunity for prayer and comforting people, so it’s a very good space.”