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BY CLIFF WORTHING ‘Housing, Help and Hope’ has already achieved the desired result for one family, with another family soon to reap the benefits of Bayside Corps’ Houses of Hope initiative in south-east Brisbane. “Our first family is now starting to dream about a better future,” said Jodie Frazer, Houses of Hope Coordinator. “The stability of secure accommodation has really helped, and the children regularly attend corps activities.” Previously, the family had struggled to maintain stability through five months of temporary living arrangements, sometimes without cooking facilities, making it difficult for the children to attend school regularly. Launched in June, the Houses of Hope initiative – with the slogan ‘Housing, Help and Hope’ – aims to provide safe and secure housing for families at risk of homelessness. Bayside Corps acts as the lead tenant for rental properties, helps furnish the property, assists families in accessing available government and community support and aids the family’s journey to sustainable self-sufficiency. The launch involved all three levels of government, local businesses, community groups, real estate agents and local Salvo expressions. “Within three days of the launch, our local Remax real estate agent came to us with a landlord wanting to offer their house for rental,” said Captain Natalie Frame, Bayside Corps Officer. “Other organisations and individuals have since offered furniture and fundraising opportunities.” Bayside Salvos are using $60,000 raised from several years of fundraising through Red Shield Appeals to fund the initiative. “However, we really needed buy-in from the community to make this work,” Natalie said. “Salvos Housing is a key component in managing the property side of things, and Cleveland Salvos Stores has been amazing as usual.” The corps anticipates having two additional families in rentals by the end of October. A landlord connected to the Bayside Salvos has offered their place for a family, and Remax Alexandra Hills has secured another house to rent. “It is so exciting to have this level of collaboration as the project brings people together to meet a desperate need,” Natalie said. “We thought we could start with one of these houses, but we have stretched our vision because so many people are interested in joining us to offer hope.”

Lawrence Besant is an Outreach Worker at the Villawood Pathways mission in Sydney. He shares his experience with Salvos Online of attending the Fraser Island fishing trip that is held each year primarily for men from Brisbane Streetlevel mission This year’s fishing trip with the Salvo community made me feel inspired. One, because there was so much natural creation around us that only God can create, and two, because there was common ground where the love of God could be expressed through human connection that had no expectations or judgement about what people should be. It was men being themselves and our call from God to love humanity unconditionally. It made me feel hopeful and that everyone is important in God’s eyes. God is with people in the tough stuff of life, as well as the good. I would be lying to say that it was a great place to be, and I did get lost in the space a few times, but it was so much more than just fishing with friends. Connection I minister to a community in Villawood, Sydney, working with similar communities like Brisbane Streetlevel. It is working with people, listening, caring, humbling ourselves before God and learning from the community. This can be tough because we see brokenness around us all the time. In being honest with myself, it can feel lonely at times. It was good to spend time with Salvo leaders such as Bryce Davies and Paul Maunder to learn what God was doing at Streetlevel. I felt connected to the wider Salvos community through the leadership and the welcome from the men in the group. Also, through the common experiences that the men were coping with in their lives. Magic moment My magic moment was watching one of the men catch his first fish and first worm. The men spent time teaching him how to cast and use the fishing rod and teaching him how to worm. Watching him catch his first fish was amazing. The absolute joy and amazement on his face was great, and we were able to share the moment with him. Sometimes communication is non-verbal. In this case, not much needs to be said. His expression told the story. Josh’s story One of the participants, Joshua Jarman, summed up the trips when he said this: “The Fraser Island trip helped me with my anxiety and depression. It taught me a lot about patience and a good way of budgeting. I met a lot of new people, and they have been great to have around and to be a part of the Fraser Island trip.” Mateship, adventure and a sense of belonging on Fraser Island fishing trip. Click here

By MAJOR BRYCE DAVIES Every year for the past 10 years (apart from a two-year break due to COVID), men from The Salvation Army’s Brisbane Streetlevel Mission have taken a one-week 4WD fishing trip to Fraser Island, Queensland. We link with another group of men connected to Peter Janetzki and his church and have strong bonds with many of these guys who have taught us and supported us over the years. This year, 16 guys and one female came along, and for a whole week, we were immersed in the vast variety and beauty of the world’s largest sand Island. It is truly a remarkable place – freshwater lakes and streams, rainforests and seemingly endless stretches of wide, sun-drenched beaches. Many of the guys had never been to the island before; for some, this was the first holiday experience they had had since childhood. Instantly, the sense of support and camaraderie was evident as we worked together to set up tents, arrange food for the week, and organise rods and tackle for significant beach fishing sessions. We caught heaps of good-sized fish and ate like kings. Every day, we sat together as a group and shared our highlights from the day before. Many shared about the friendship and the fun and banter of the group. There was always a comment about the sense of awe – found in the sunsets and the sunrise, the vast sky and surging ocean, the breaching whales and the soaring eagles. People appreciated the service offered to each other, such as preparing amazing meals, teaching guys how to cast or bait hooks or just making a coffee and sharing a chocolate. We planned out our days – learning to cooperate and accommodate each other and ensuring everyone had a great time. We had time to have significant conversations together as we sat on the beach or around a fire at night. I recall many significant chats about important issues and found the environment and the context lent itself to vulnerability as there was plenty of time to listen and share deeply. For many of the guys who attend this trip, it is by far the highlight of their year. They love the mateship, the adventure and the authentic sense of belonging and connection to the Salvos. The love felt within the group was palpable. This event undoubtedly helps some of our most vulnerable and marginalised people feel hope and confidence in the Christian way of life and in the people of The Salvation Army. One of the participants was Lawrence Besant, a Salvos Outreach Worker at Villawood Pathways mission in Sydney. Read his reflections on the Fraser Island fishing trip here.

REVIEWED BY IAIN TRAINOR* For anyone interested in the history of The Salvation Army and the influences that impacted co-founder William Booth, this book is a must. Written by retired Salvation Army officer Major Peter Collins, the book is a pleasant read that holds attention throughout the little over 400 pages. Before the reader assumes this is just a rehash of what has already been written, please be assured that is not the case. The book reminds the reader that the Wesleyan tradition came about through difficult times. The writer makes it very clear that John Wesley’s heart was set to reinvigorate the Church of England with the Spirit of Holiness. The Methodist New Connexion, the Primitive Methodists, and other disparate groups struggled with theology and organisational form. The inclusion of the theological stance and ministry of people like William Cooke, Charles Finney, James Caughey and the Fletchers gives insight into the life and times of great change not just in society but also in the Church and the role of the female ministry. While anyone with a passion for Salvation Army history would understand why both William and Catherine are referred to as the founders, the treatise gives very little doubt about Catherine’s influence on William, and one wonders how The Salvation Army might have evolved had she lived. With so much turmoil evidenced throughout the book, it does not take a genius to recognise the Spirit at work. Indeed, the progression from the East London Revival Union to the Christian Mission to The Salvation Army is one of God’s hand guiding, at times, very human individuals. The book deals fairly with the Methodist New Connexion conferences and the seminal conference at Liverpool, which set an unequivocal course for Booth and what would become The Salvation Army. If one were critical – not of the book, but the events – one might be perplexed at the reversal of direction taken by Booth. One of the most controversial points of contention in early Methodism was regarding the control Wesley exerted and the desire to broaden the organisational structure, yet in the organisation of The Salvation Army, Booth was totally autocratic. While vital for the effective development of Booth’s Army, one does wonder at the impact on strong-minded co-workers. Collins spends considerable time outlining the internal conflicts that plagued the Methodists, and one wonders if the structure of The Christian Mission was modified to avoid such pointless, futile conflicts, which inevitably detracted from the soul-saving function of the organisation. In conclusion, I would commend this work based on the significant insights it gives to the eventual development of The Salvation Army. Two Williams and their Contemporaries is available from Salvationist Supplies by emailing trade.sydney@salvationarmy.org.au or trade.melbourne@salvationarmy.org.au or by calling Sydney Salvationist Supplies (1800 634 209) and Melbourne Salvation Army Supplies (1800 100 018). The prices are $50 (soft cover) and $65 (hard cover). *Major Iain Trainor is a retired Salvation Army officer who lives in Western Australia

Salvationists and volunteers in Ukraine recently visited the village of Gorenka and delivered clothes, food and hygiene products provided by the France and Belgium Territory. The team regularly visits this village. The families who live there have been displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, or have seen their homes there destroyed. They are housed in temporary accommodation blocks where they share bathroom, kitchen and other facilities. “Visiting residents is always a tear-breaking moment, as these people share their stories of living without electricity, water, gas and heating in their apartments in extreme winter conditions before the temporary accommodation was built,” says Major Kostiantyn Shvab, Ukraine Divisional Commander. “Currently, residents in Gorenka village live in severe need of everything – food, clothes, shoes, hygiene products and more. The Salvation Army in Ukraine provides help and support to those are who in need and it relies on help that comes from other countries. The Ukraine Division is completely sure that the number of its supporters around the globe will grow and the range of help that can be provided will dramatically increase. “Gorenka village is physically severely destroyed, but because of the residents, it feels alive! However, all the residents are asking – What will happen next? When their homes be rebuilt and when their children will stop experiencing the horror of war?” Extremely heavy fighting took place in and around Gorenka early in the war, with citizens being evacuated on 5 March. They were allowed to return on 14 April. “It was a very big stress for them to see their homes destroyed and the belongings they had to leave, burned,” said Kostiantyn. “Most of the village residents lost everything they owned.” According to the United Nations, 1200 houses have been destroyed in Gorenka since the war began – approximately 80 per cent of the village. The Ukraine Division of The Salvation Army is part of the Eastern Europe Territory. To listen to Daniil’s message, click here. To read Irina’s message, click here.

In 2013, I was fortunate to attend the International College for Officers (ICO) – eight weeks in London with about 25 officers from around the world. It was a wonderful time that served both as a period of spiritual renewal as well as offering some valuable hints on leadership in ministry. Some sessions are marked as ‘translation sessions’ where rather than sending a translator to accompany one non-English speaker, it makes more sense to have a group of people who speak the same language if you are going to provide a translator. I was in a Korean ‘translation session’ and we had four Korean officers (and three Korean-American officers) and two Korean officers who acted as translators. So, all up, nine officers with Korean heritage. While the translators and Korean-American officers spoke fluent English, the four Korean officers spoke no English at all. We all got to know each other well, so the language barrier wasn’t too much of an issue. One day, I was sitting with two of the men, Yong-Don and Pil-Yong, at a lunch break. It led to one of the more memorable times in my life when they would talk to me in Korean (and I wouldn’t understand a word they were saying but would nod along), and I would speak to them in English (and they would similarly nod and smile). It was a wonderful, happy and slightly surreal time. I was enjoying the food and wanted to tell them this, so I asked one of the Korean American officers, Stephanie, “How do you say in Korean that the food is yummy?”, and she replied, “masisseoyo” (‘mass-ee-soy-you’). I turned to them and said, “masisseoyo” ... and they laughed. I thought maybe I’d got it wrong, so I pointed at the food and said, “masisseoyo”. They laughed harder, almost rolling on the floor. I called Stephanie back and said, “What word did you give me?” thinking she had set me up. She said, “Say the word to me”, so I did … all three of them laughed! She explained, “You’re saying the right word, but you’re saying it angry. No one says food is delicious while they sound angry!” Sometimes when you speak a foreign language, you can fall for the trap of speaking in English but trying to do so with an accent, thinking that will help you. Like when you’re in France, and instead of saying, “I would love a cup of tea”, you tell the waitress, “A werd lerv ay coop of tay.” I said to Stephanie that I had ‘learnt’ to speak an Asian language by watching samurai and kung fu movies as a child, so the only way I could speak Asian was to do so in an angry samurai voice: “Mmmm, this food is maaaaaa-si-SSEOYU!” No wonder they laughed. An Australian in England speaking TV-Asian to Koreans. We all laughed. God probably laughed too. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

BY LAUREN MARTIN For many years, the Shire Salvos Miranda centre in the heart of the Sutherland Shire, in Sydney’s south, has been The Salvation Army’s hub of food relief and assistance services for the local area. Even COVID didn’t stop its doors from opening. Now, the team has added a vital new expression – ‘Soul Food’ – a faith community around a meal. Lieutenant-Colonel David Godkin, Shire Salvos Miranda Mission Leader, says the evening is specifically designed to nurture the soul – there is no welfare assistance or food hampers given away on the Soul Food evening. People come for food, faith and fellowship, he says, with the tagline for the evening being: Food for your stomach, Hope for your soul, Truth that sets you free. And coming they are – in large numbers. Soul Food is held on a Thursday evening – two nights after the regular Tuesday night ‘One Meal’ food and assistance evening, which attracts between 50-70 people per week. The very first Soul Food faith expression in early August saw 50 people attend, many of them regulars to Shire Salvos Miranda who had invited friends to “their church”, as they are calling it. “Already they feel like this is their place; this is their faith community,” says David. “On our first week, we had some prayer cards that we handed out to people, and they filled them in and put them in the prayer basket. People in corps [Shire Salvos Menai] have been praying for those prayer requests.” “Soul Food needs to be a place that is real and raw – and always Jesus-focused.” Soul Food at Miranda is supported by members of the Shire Salvos gathered worshipping community, which meets at Menai, a few suburbs away. Corps members volunteer to prepare the communal meal, be table hosts, set up, pack up and also give their testimonies. David says that Miranda community members are already putting up their hands to help and share their own stories. “And it’s not just good news stories with a happy ending either; some people want to tell their stories because they are still in the midst of their struggle. We want a real mix of stories. Soul Food needs to be a place that is real and raw – and always Jesus-focused.” One community member who attended said as she left one evening: “I love coming here, there is a really nice peace in the place.” Others have requested a weekly day-time Bible study. Many attending have built relationships over months or years with Salvos at Miranda through its various ministries and services. Now, they can go deeper in fellowship and ask questions about things like faith, hope and unconditional love they have experienced through those interactions. “[Soul Food] is like a breath of fresh air to them. They’re still all coming on Tuesday night for their food hamper and their community meal,” says David, “but there’s a real excitement about Thursday night because it’s their faith community. It’s special.”

Damaris Frisk, Salvation Army International Emergency Services (IES) director, led a ‘Prepare’ training session in Poland this week for 30 delegates from the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The mission of IES is to provide support and assistance to territories, regions and other countries affected by disaster and conflict around the world. The IES teams work in partnership with local Salvos and other organisations to raise awareness of their vision and provide support, coordination and facilitation of programs, training and resources. Australian officer Captain Kathleen Johansson, who now serves in Riga, Latvia (Sweden and Latvia Territory), was one of the delegates. “I’ve wanted to get a look into how The Salvation Army is organised to work in response to disasters and other emergency situations for a very long time,” she said. “So, this is like a little dream come true.” Captain Oleg Samoilenko, who serves in Warsaw, Poland (Germany, Lithuania and Poland Territory), also said the training “brought me one step closer to one of my dreams – taking part in a Salvation Army IES mission.”

The Salvation Army’s Magpie Nest housing program will continue to improve the lives of more than 100 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness thanks to funding from the Victorian Government. Minister for Housing Colin Brooks, attending the annual AFL finals celebration at The Salvation Army’s Magpie Nest Café in Bourke Street, announced the investment of more than $2 million to continue supporting some of Victoria's most vulnerable. A partnership between The Salvation Army’s Melbourne Project 614 and Collingwood Football Club Foundation, Magpie Nest provides accommodation to 130 people a year, with 45 two-and-three-bedroom homes. The program aims to make a genuine difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness by giving them a network of support services as well as safe and affordable accommodation. It targets the most vulnerable people in the community, including people sleeping rough, couch surfing or living in sub-standard accommodation. The program provides housing across Melbourne and support from case workers who provide individual support and care including links to mental health, drug and alcohol services, legal, employment and training services. There is also an emphasis on residents engaging in community activities, such as sports, arts and cultural programs. “Magpie Nest gives people experiencing homelessness the support they need to rebuild their lives. We're delighted to be working with the government and Collingwood Football Club to help more Victorians,” said Project 614 Corps Officer Major Brendan Nottle. Edited from an article courtesy of Mirage.News

Elle Smith says she has grown closer to God since she started working for The Salvation Army as a Doorways caseworker in Coffs Harbour (NSW). She shares her story with Salvos Online. AS TOLD TO LAUREN MARTIN I started working for the Salvos as a drought relief assessor. Prior to that, I had only been working as a barista at Maccas, so this was my first big job out in the workforce. It was just a beautiful way to start my professional development. My team leaders were gorgeous, constantly checking in on me, always offering a listening ear, great guidance and good mentors. Then an opportunity to work for The Salvation Army’s PAL [Phone Assistance Line] came up, and I was offered to work there full-time. At the time I was only 18. I was still quite young, so I was so grateful that they didn’t see my age as a sign of inexperience. I have lived experience. Then, I had an opportunity to move up to Coffs Harbour [on the NSW mid-north coast.] I had completed my Diploma [in Case Management], and a year later the Salvos contacted me and asked me to apply for a Doorways Case Management position. The values that the Salvos have – I see it in everyone who works in the organisation – it’s such a beautiful place to be surrounded by amazing people. I went for the interview, and I was very lucky to get the job. I was brought up a Catholic and went to a Catholic school, and as I went through high school my faith was no longer a priority for me. But it was always something underlying. When I had troubles, I did always pray, but I had lost touch with [my relationship with God.] Being surrounded in my work by Andrew, Jeanette [Coffs Harbour Corps Officers, Majors Andrew and Jeanette Van Gaalen] and a lot of the volunteers who have such strong faith, it was an inspiration to me to get back in touch with that. It aligns so well with me and how I view the world. I was a little bit nervous to speak about it at first. It was almost like I felt like I didn’t have enough experience. But I had an amazing support network. The Van Gaalens and their children have been really good to me ... letting me ask a lot of questions. I did a lot of readings and asked a lot of questions! Then I had the opportunity to be baptised, and that was such a special experience. Since then, I have felt God every day, and I find a way to connect with him more and more now. When I speak to members of the community that I am trying to support, I feel God in me. He speaks through me – everything feels so light. Knowing I have someone that I can turn to and talk to anytime and can love me unconditionally no matter what – is just such a beautiful feeling. When I first started working for the Salvos, I could see God shining through all these people. Now, I get to be one of those people. I think if you just let God shine through you, people will see, and they will ask and want to be part of it!

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal enterprise internationally. To be able to expand its Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response (MSHTR), The Salvation Army has established Communities of Practice by geographic zone, intended to equip people in every geographic unit where The Salvation Army has a presence, to engage in this battle. Walking down a narrow lane in Mumbai, India, you notice women in brightly coloured saris and heavily made-up faces, milling around in the street. The drudgery of everyday life spills into the lane since the concrete rooms they rent inside are too small for cooking or sharing a meal. This is a morning in one of Mumbai’s oldest and most notorious red-light districts. You step into a drop-in centre, run by The Salvation Army, filled with neatly groomed children all in school uniforms. The children receive an early lunch after the centre’s morning activities before they head off to school in the afternoon. The walls are decorated with their artwork, a photo board of previous activities and events, reminders of their rights as children, and daily affirmations. Many of these children have been born into the red-light district, often to mothers who have been trafficked and have little choice but to continue the trade. The Salvation Army project here is called ‘Jeevan Asha’ – Jeevan is mostly translated to ‘life’, and Asha means ‘hope’. In addition to the drop-in centre, this recently licenced building is also used as a night shelter for boys who live in the red-light district. This night shelter is critical to safety as an alternative to wandering the streets or sleeping outside, while their mothers are working. The third main component of this Jeevan Asha project is outreach to the women living and working in the red-light district. This is a long-established area with women who may have been working there for decades. Many share anecdotal stories of becoming victims of trafficking as young teenagers. This red-light district is in the heart of Mumbai city, which boasts the most expensive real estate in India. The rent for a small room is exorbitant and prevents many women from making headway on debt that keeps them enslaved. The high cost of real estate increases eviction and dispersal rates of workers as the high-density red-light district is slowly being demolished and turned into offices and apartments. This leaves them without anywhere to go, compounding their existing vulnerabilities. These women often have little or no social support outside of other women in the red-light district. Meagre financial resources, few alternative options for employment, and little likelihood of being allowed to rent or lease a different place leave them with limited future prospects. The need is great for outreach to these women, to work alongside them, to find alternative means of survival and places to stay to live a ‘Jeevan Asha’ – life of hope. This is a story of one Salvation Army project, working to combat the atrocities of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The magnitude of human trafficking and modern slavery is approximately 50 million people globally, up nearly 20 per cent over five years. This story is reprinted from The Salvation Army World Service Office annual report 2023. To download this report, click here.

Salvation Army personnel attended the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra yesterday to support Nick Kaldas, Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides, who addressed the audience. Major Brett Gallagher, Chief Commissioner for Red Shield Defence Services, Captain Ali McKeand, Veterans Ministries Coordinator, and Major Peter McGuigan, Head of Government Relations, listened to the Commissioner’s speech and responses to questions from the media that followed. In his speech, Commissioner Kaldas challenged Australia to develop a new strategy to address the trauma experienced by current and veteran soldiers (Army, Navy and Air Force). “Afterwards, we spoke with the Commissioner about his speech and The Salvation Army’s role in supporting the nation's troops and veterans spiritually, emotionally and physically,” said Peter. “The Royal Commission’s report will be handed down in June 2024 after nearly three years of deliberations and hundreds of meetings across Australia. The Salvation Army addressed the first hearing of the commission held in Brisbane.”