The Salvation Army is committed to assisting young people achieve their potential by offering training and educational opportunities. BY LAUREN MARTIN A scholarship program funded by a Salvation Army corporate partner is helping teenagers and young adults connected with Salvo youth programs access educational assistance. The scholarship, sponsored by Toyota Australia, was launched earlier this month. It allows young people, with the help of their Salvation Army youth worker, to apply for assistance with course fees, textbooks and e-learning materials, laptops, tools, uniforms and transport costs for education or training. There are three rounds of applications, with 50 grants of up to $1500 available, and funding above that amount if special circumstances are met. Toyota Australia’s John Pappas (Vice President, National Sales, Marketing & Franchise Operations) said the scholarship is about enabling access and opportunity. “We recognise that many young people accessing Salvation Army services demonstrate capability and commitment to their goals and often while navigating complex circumstances,” John said. “Toyota Australia is committed to helping young people access education and training opportunities. “This scholarship provides practical, timely support to help remove financial barriers and enable continued engagement in education, skills development, and future employment pathways.” Stephanie Wilks says the scholarship is a ‘tangible investment in youth’. Stephanie Wilks, The Salvation Army’s General Manager, Youth and Education, said the support from Toyota Australia is a wonderful recognition of the potential of young people engaging with The Salvation Army’s youth services. “The scholarship provides recognition, encouragement and a tangible investment in their future pathways,” she said. Successful candidates will continue to be supported by their Salvation Army youth worker as they work towards their education and training goals, with the aim of securing employment and building a sustainable future. Across Australia, The Salvation Army supports young people impacted by homelessness, unemployment, alcohol and other drugs, and disadvantage due to inability to access supports, education and services. The Toyota Australia youth education scholarship gives young people connected with the Salvos access to opportunities that would otherwise be out of their reach. For more information on Salvation Army Youth Services, click here

The speakers at the symposium (from left, front) Associate Professor Fanang Lum Lahpai, Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, the Reverend Canon Garry Worete Deverell, Mikenzie Ling, Dr Chang-Hua Lin. (Back, from left) Professor Hukato N Shohe, Des Rogers, Nathan Tyson, Reverend Professor Dr Nasili Vaka'uta. Image: Supplied BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE Last week, I was very privileged to attend the inaugural National Indigenous Ecumenical Council in Australia (NIECA) Symposium, held on the lands of the Kaurna people/Adelaide with the theme ‘Holders of Our Knowledge and Keepers of Our Stories’. I was one of two of us from The Salvation Army who attended, the other being Auxiliary-Lieutenant Matt Cairns, Student Support and Higher Education Lecturer at Eva Burrows College. Matt is currently completing a PhD project on decolonisation of The Salvation Army under the supervision of the Salvos’ Reverend Professor Glen O’Brien, and Australian theologian and NIECA Chair Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray. I spent the two days at the symposium listening to perspectives from scholars studying the theologies and storytelling histories of Indigenous peoples across Oceania – from the Pacific, Myanmar, Taiwan and India, as well as, of course, Australia. As a non-Indigenous person with coloniser blood, it feels disingenuous in some ways to report on an event like this from the first person. But the reason I’m writing this from my own experience is that to attempt to present this experience without personalising it is also disingenuous. At the heart of the conference, and as I have reflected since – at the heart of our theologies – is story. The story of our communities, our families, and of us. As we sit and take in knowledge from those of other cultures, we are passing it all through the lenses of what we already believe, and what we treat with suspicion. As I sat and listened, I became innately aware of how much disbelief I held as not just an acceptable response, but a reasonable one. Why would my perspective, largely shaped by scholars of European and Anglo-American descent, which holds no room for creation stories that involve male and female emerging from pumpkins as in the ancestral accounts of the Kachin people of Myanmar, or views waves and oceans as barriers, rather than pathways as many Pacific islander people groups do, be the correct one? Why might we be tempted to view some of these perspectives as absurd or off-base, and our own as inherently reasonable? Both of these perspectives were shared at the conference and later discussed in groups that included those from Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Episcopal, Anglican, Quaker and Uniting church backgrounds, and what was apparent to me was that at an event like this, what we hear of another cultural perspective is simply the tip of the iceberg. It is knowledge, shrunk down to be palatable and comprehensible in a short matter of time, but it speaks to worlds within worlds. How can we, as coloniser Christians, so easily regard ourselves as multicultural, as educated? How, when we truly know so little of another’s experiences? Another failing of non-Indigenous people like myself is to view cultures for whom the past is central to the present and future as somehow stuck, unmoving. In his talk on day two of the symposium, Uncle Reverend Ken Sumner, a Kukabrak Ngarrindjeri man and Uniting Church minister, stated that Indigenous stories were not merely memories of the past. “They are living wisdom,” he said. “They invite us into restoration.” This was echoed by Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, who spoke on Aboriginal matriarchs as story-keepers. She spoke of how Indigenous knowledges were encapsulated in language, songs and stories, visual arts and expressions of art, rituals or ceremonies, and management and use of land, including flora and fauna. “It’s important that non-Indigenous people understand that when we refer to Indigenous knowledges as traditional, it is not confined to the past. It is also the here and now. It continues to shape our understanding today, within contemporary society,” she said. This invitation to restoration and the wisdom of the past is very tangible, and multifaceted. As Reverend Canon Dr Garry Worete Deverell, a trawloolway man from northern lutruwita (Tasmania) said in his presentation titled ‘Theological Conversation on Country’ that this wisdom acquired by Indigenous peoples through their own long experience with living respectfully and sustainably in this land was precisely what was required to address our national crisis with ecological degradation and mass extinctions of species. “It is precisely what is missing in a church theology which focuses only on the ancient far West or Europe or North America,” he said. Garry also challenged those like me, and you – to a truthful kind of living. A kind that is open and transparent about the ways in which we both willingly and unwillingly participate in what he described as “the fundamentally unjust structure of our society and country”. “Insofar as we are able and have the power to do so, we should certainly do what we can to make a better, more just and beautiful world,” he said as part of his conclusion. This was the challenge to all of us in attendance. It was an invitation to work together, alongside one another in fairness and equality towards a future where our cultural faith and beliefs are not seen as better or worse, but complementary. The Salvation Army’s Shirli Congoo, General Manager Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team is part of the NIECA Wisdom Council. To find out more about NIECA and the Symposium, see here or to follow NIECA on Facebook, see the QR code.

Leaders from The Salvation Army Australia and the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands territories gathered for the workshop earlier this year. Image: Facebook Earlier this year, The Salvation Army International Development (SAID) Australia partnered with officers and development staff from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory to strengthen their Territorial Community Development Strategy - a roadmap for positive, long-term change. Through open dialogue and a two-day workshop at Territorial Headquarters in Port Moresby, staff and leadership reflected on what’s working, where growth is needed, and how the Army’s mission and values guide community development. One of the wokshops in progress during the two-day event at Territorial Headquarters in Port Moresby. “By working together, we’re aligning efforts around a common goal: Gudpela Sindaun / Gud Stap meaning fullness of life, for communities that the Salvation Army is working in,” the SAID team wrote on their Facebook page. “By equipping, enabling and empowering communities across education, health and social justice, and by listening closely to local voices, communities are better placed to identify their needs, speak out, and lead their own development. “When staff, leadership and partners collaborate with a shared vision, meaningful and lasting community change becomes possible.” To find out more about the work of SAID, see their website here. Southern Africa Leaders’ Gathering Leaders from the Southern Africa Territory. Image: Facebook Leaders from across the Southern Africa Territory met this week for the beginning of The Salvation Army's Territorial Leaders Gathering. In a Facebook post, leaders thanked God and requested prayer for the event. “As territorial leaders gather from across Southern Africa, we give thanks to God for this opportunity to seek His wisdom, strengthen our fellowship, and renew our shared commitment to His mission. May these days be filled with meaningful conversations, Spirit-led discernment, and a fresh vision for the work ahead,” they wrote. “Please keep our leaders in your prayers as they meet, worship, and plan together for the advancement of God’s Kingdom throughout our Territory.” To find out more about the Southern Africa Territory, see here. Response to Ebola outbreak expands Image: The Salvation Army International Headquarters Also in Africa, The Salvation Army is expanding its combined Ebola prevention and response program across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with confirmed cases rising and number of deaths also increasing. With transmission being recorded now in more than 33 health zones, including parts of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The Salvation Army’s response has included supplying protective equipment to 13 TSA health facilities in Kinshasa, and the completion of a prevention project in Kalemie. Training is now also underway for health workers and other key stakeholders in Kinshasa, with community awareness, hygiene and infection-prevention activities being implemented in Bunia and Goma in the DRC and parts of Uganda and the Republic of Congo. Further projects are being developed to provide hygiene facilities, improve infection prevention and increase awareness in communities, schools, churches and health centres. Local leaders are also working alongside Salvation Army teams to share reliable information, challenge misinformation and encourage safer behaviour. To find out more about The Salvation Army's response to the Ebola crisis, see here. World leaders in Europe for festival General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham being interviewed at the ‘meet & celebrate 2026’ festival. Image: The Salvation Army International Headquarters In Europe, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham recently joined almost 1200 officers, soldiers, employees, friends and supporters from the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory for ‘meet & celebrate 2026’, held at Thun-Expo on 27–28 June. The weekend festival, themed ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, brought people of all generations together for worship, teaching, interactive workshops, community activities, games and fellowship. Following months of preparation, around 200 volunteers gave their time to help deliver the event, which followed the territory’s 2022 gathering, ‘Out of the Box’. In a deliberate departure from usual protocol, the General was interviewed on stage by young people, with no member of territorial leadership alongside him. This was a conscious decision by the Swiss organising team to ensure that young people were not only spoken about but actively involved in shaping the event. The entire weekend was also hosted by emcees in their early 20s, marking another significant first for the territory. To read more, see here.

Action and sportsmanship were reflected in last week's annual Basketball and Netball Carnival, held in Queensland. Carnival photos: Josh Foster BY SIMONE WORTHING More than 300 people representing 28 teams from around the Australia Territory took part in The Salvation Army Interstate Basketball and Netball Carnival on the Gold Coast earlier this month. The carnival has been running since 1971, and is held in a different location each year. The Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre at Carrara hosted this year’s event, which ran from 5-11 July. There were four game days, with Wednesday a rest day, and a presentation night after finals on the Saturday. Teams came from across the five divisions of the territory – NSW/ACT, Queensland, South Australia/Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria. The competition included Men’s A, Men’s B, Women’s, Under 18’s Boys & Under 14’s mixed basketball and Netball A & B. Teams played either 10 or 11 games and finals. Major Ben Johnson, Cairns Corps Officer and host state representative for the carnival, led the Opening Night at Tweed Salvos, just across the NSW-Queensland border from the Gold Coast, on Sunday night 5 July. Guest speaker was Jeremy Kendle, a former Brisbane Bullets NBL player and a committed Christian. Ex-Brisbane Bullets player, Jeremy Kendle, was guest speaker for Opening Night. “Jeremy shared some of his story,” said Ben. “It’s always helpful to have someone with a profile like that who has played professional basketball and shares how their faith engages with and is critical to, their life and career.” Ben shared that, although the carnival is about good competition, that competition is not the end point. “This is about sharing our faith and encouraging people to put their faith in Christ,” he said. “It’s about the conversations you have on the sidelines or when you’re sharing meals together, travelling, and you have an opportunity to deepen relationships and ask the bigger questions of life as well.” Ben and his team also introduced some fun activities for the week – a dance to get the whole carnival involved, and the ‘Cinderella Moment’ competition. “We’ll call out a shoe size and two people will come out, try on the shoe and the first person to tie up the laces, wins the shoes.” Prayer huddles took place before each match at Carnival. Photos Joshua Foster. Teamwork Carnival Coordinator Marj Rava, Youth and Young Adults Secretary (Tasmania) and National Sports Ministry Coordinator, has been coming to the carnival for many years and now coordinates the event and “brings it all together with my team”. “Sport is really important to Australians, and the opportunity to create a community based around like-minded people who love sport is an easy way to gather people,” she said. “This community gives participants the opportunity to meet new people, feel a part of something and be included, valued, loved and accepted. From that, there’s the potential for conversations and an opportunity to share a bit more of who Jesus is and why we do what we do. Teams from across the country played competitively and encouraged each other throughout the matches. “There are people from all around The Salvation Army and across the generations playing in this event – including from corps, a few from Doorways and Fairhaven (Gold Coast Recovery Services) – and this is a great place for people of all abilities, ages and backgrounds to play basketball and netball, build community and friendships, encourage one another and have a good time.” Some of the special moments from Carnival 2026. Devotional times Daily devotions took place each game day at 11:40am. Different people shared their testimonies – including Jan and Haraga, two young women from Papua New Guinea who had completed the Gold Coast Marathon on 4 July as part of The Salvation Army’s Hope and a Future program. Jan (left) and Haraga from Papua New Guinea, part of the Hope and a Future Program, share how faith has impacted them during their lives, and in the recent Gold Coast Marathon. Jacob Browning from Shire Salvos (NSW) spoke on Monday, and the Papua New Guinea team on Tuesday. On Thursday, Marj spoke on encouragement and everyone was asked to take a provided note that said, ‘You are awesome’ and a chocolate and give it to someone from another state. Major David Collinson (right) thanks Major Trevor Nicol for his years of service. The Friday devotion featured an interview with Ella Hobbs (VIC) and a farewell to Major Trevor Nicol. Major David Collinson, Executive Officer, Mission - Salvos Stores, thanked Trevor for his “incredible organising and administration of the NSW/ACT basketball and netball teams and Carnival since 1997. Amazing service over 30 years! Enjoy your retirement, you will be missed.” Major Trevor Nicol (centre) is thanked for his service by the NSW/ACT players. Presentation night Majors Ben and Emma Johnson emceed the carnival’s final celebration and Presentation Night. Major Brett Gallagher, Head of Integrated Mission and Resourcing, assisted with grace and presentations. Finals, Most-Valued Players, Best & Fairest and All-Star teams were also awarded during the evening. The ‘Coaches Award’ introduced at the carnival last year in Wollongong to recognise a coach for their positive attitude, support of their team, and overall character during the week, went to Phoebe Johnson (QLD) for coaching the Under 14’s basketball team. Major Ben Johnson also presented Cairns player, Kal-El Badham, the ‘Lazarus Award’ – “a play on the gospel narrative expressing our love for people and our joy that they made a ‘come-back’ to Carnival,” Ben explained. Last year, after returning from Carnival in Wollongong, Kal-El was taken to hospital after a cardiac arrest. He has undergone treatment for a heart condition and is now planning a professional basketball career. His next step is playing for three months, beginning mid-September, in Phoenix, Arizona with AUS Prep Hoops. Results: Men’s A: SA/NT def QLD Women’s Bball: SA/NT def NSW/ACT (66-30) Men’s B: NA1 def QLD (46-35) Netball A: NA3 def TAS (34-18) Netball B: SA/NT def NA1 (36-19) Under 18 Boys: NA1 def NA2 (75-36) Under 14 Mixed: SA/NT def NSW/ACT (85-29) For more images from Carnival 2026, click on the arrow below. More info: For more information and team photos from the carnival, click here For more photos and videos, check out the Instagram account at @Salvos_BNCarnival Personal impressions Nyssa (TAS): “I just love seeing everyone playing together and it’s been so much fun to support the opposing team and other teams as well. It’s sportsmanship. The camaraderie is just lovely. It’s so good to come around everyone and give people a great experience.” Major Nicole Snead (Hobart Corps Officer): “I just love coming and seeing everyone working and playing together across the generations, families. I love playing with my daughter.” Jackie Soper (Shire Salvos, NSA): I'm here because I just love sports and I love building friendships, relationships, and through sport is a great way to do it. We all cheer each other on no matter what, and that’s really important. It’s a safe place for everyone to be themselves, to play and the competition is good, and fair. It’s a great environment and a great place to bring friends from outside church.” Major Emma Johnson (Corps Officer, Cairns): “I loved the people, I loved the game, it’s just been an awesome, awesome experience.” Carnival quotes On presentation night, several participants answered the question, ‘What did you love about carnival this year?’ “Hanging out with our friends and meeting new people.” “I liked making it to the grand final and having fun versing South Australia.” “I loved how, even though we were very competitive, it was bigger than just a game. We were all very friendly and the competition was very good.” “I loved actually being a fan more than a player. We got to watch our state play and just getting behind them and cheering them on was just the best.” Our favourite bit was the friendship circle at the end when you all went ‘hooray, hooray, hooray’.” “I would say cheering on the other teams.” “I just really liked playing with the Tribe girls during netball. The environment on the court was just immaculate and second to none. It was such a great vibe playing with them and their improvement over the time and the connection we made with them; there was just a whole carnival vibe.” “Catching up with old friends and chanting and dancing on the court.” “I liked it because it was good! People, fun, the vibe of the whole thing, and it wasn’t just people ball hogging the whole time. It was people giving the ball to everyone. I loved carnival.” “I really loved getting to see familiar faces that I’ve seen in previous years and just getting back on the court.”

Glenorchy Corps Officers Majors Cherie and Chris Clarke (back right) and other Salvo personnel with Glenorchy City Council Deputy Mayor Russell Yaxley (back left), Member for Elwick Bec Thomas (front centre) and TOMRA Cleanaway General Manager Corey Wingard (far right) at the launch. BY LAUREN MARTIN The Salvation Army has been selected as Tasmania’s Recycle Rewards charity partner, with a goal of raising $10,000 through community recycling of containers and cans. The Recycle Rewards ‘No Family Deserves to Go Hungry’ campaign, in partnership with scheme operator TOMRA Cleanaway and scheme coordinator TasRecycle, was launched on 29 June. Tasmanians are encouraged to donate their empty bottles and cans to The Salvation Army by selecting ‘donate’ when they recycle at a container refund location. “We’re proud to be part of a program that not only reduces litter and benefits the environment, but also strengthens our ability to support individuals and families doing it tough,” said Amelia Natoli, The Salvation Army’s External Communications Manager in Tasmania. Under Recycle Rewards, Tasmanians can receive a 10-cent refund for each eligible container returned, or donate their refund directly to one of many registered charities and community groups. The Salvation Army hosted a free community barbecue as part of its “No Family Deserves to Go Hungry” campaign launch in Glenorchy, Tasmania. The Salvation Army is the partner charity until 4 October and aims to raise $10,000 through the scheme. At the launch event, Glenorchy Corps Officers Majors Chris and Cherie Clarke joined others to host a free community barbecue to encourage community members to get involved and participate, earning themselves a fun prize or two along the way. The event was supported by Glenorchy City Council, SEED and TOMRA Cleanaway. TasRecycle CEO Ken Roughley said the campaign is an easy way to make a real difference in the lives of Tasmanians doing it tough. “Whether it’s a single container or a bag full of bottles, cans and cartons, every donation helps The Salvation Army raise important funds for the Red Shield Appeal,” he said. “It’s a great example of how small actions can add up to make a real difference for both our communities and our environment.” For regular updates on the campaign, go to The Salvation Army Tasmania Facebook page here. Click through the slideshow below for more photos of the launch event:

Meet Ron, an early riser and Salvation Army soldier and chaplain who has spent over 12 years greeting commuters every Friday morning at Central Station in Brisbane. What began as a daunting task facing crowds of thousands each morning has grown into a source of genuine connection. Through this street ministry, Ron has built rapport with people from all walks of life. He believes he is where the Lord wants him to be.

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? My husband, Ashley, and I serve as Corps Officers at Brisbane City Temple (BCT). What I love most is seeing what God is doing in people’s lives – the beauty of seeing so many active in ministry, coming to us with fresh ideas of doing ministry in the city, corps people sharing their faith and praying with those in the community, and using their gifts to serve others. It’s also been a joy to see young people, including some with no Salvation Army background, finding a place to belong at BCT, embracing the band, songsters, and being so welcomed and encouraged by the wider corps family. I love the people; I love seeing traditional expressions of worship used in new ways, and I count it a privilege to have a front-row seat to God at work in this place. And the great cafés nearby are a nice bonus! 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? When I’m not at the corps, you’ll usually find me at home relaxing, maybe with a book, writing, drawing, or dreaming up ideas that may or may not be practical! I’ve written a couple of short stories and would love to write a novel one day. I also enjoy a good TV binge. My genres of choice are Hallmark movies, especially Christmas movies, and crime dramas such as Criminal Minds, NCIS, Bones and Midsomer Murders. I’m not entirely sure what that combination says about me! I love anything old – antiques, old houses (we had an old house in Sydney that we renovated before we became officers), history, and discovering the stories behind them. My favourite authors are Jane Austen and Daphne du Maurier, which probably explains a lot. I also love travelling, but my favourite thing is spending time with my family. When we’re all together, it’s wonderfully chaotic, full of laughter, and usually quite loud. Combine family and travel, and you’ve pretty much described my happy place. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? A favourite Christian song of mine for quite some time has been ‘There Will Be God’ by Joy Webb. I love the way it speaks into the world we’re living in right now – the pain, the doubt, the loneliness and the confusion. I think every one of us has experienced those things at some point. The message is beautifully simple: no matter what is happening in your life, no matter what is happening in the world, there will be hope, there will be love, there will be God. What greater message could we share? I also love the drama in the music. It somehow reaches down deep and gives voice to those emotions and the intensity of them. For me, the music and lyrics work together beautifully, creating space for the Holy Spirit to move. It’s a song that reminds me that God is present, God is at work, and God can always be trusted. 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? It was a very close race between Peter, Abigail and Barnabas, but Barnabas just won by a nose! I’d love to sit down with him over a chai latte and hear his stories of the early church. But more than that, I’d love to know how he became so good at seeing potential in people that others missed. He seemed to recognise what God could do in someone’s life before they could see it themselves. I’d love to learn how to become more like that. Barnabas reminds me that some of the most important ministry isn’t done in the spotlight. Often, it’s simply walking alongside people, encouraging them, believing in them, and helping them become all that God intends them to be. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? If God is calling you to officership, then my advice would be simple: do it. It won’t always be easy. There have certainly been some very tough seasons, but I can honestly say I have never regretted following God’s call. Don’t go into officership because of what you think you can do. Go because of what God can do in and through you. Time and again, I’ve found that He provides, He sustains, He places the right people around you, and He teaches you what it means to depend on Him. For me, being in the centre of God’s will is the best place to be, whether the season is difficult or joy-filled. There is nothing else I can imagine doing. So, if He’s calling you, trust Him and say yes. More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.

Each week through 2026, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for the same territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (13-20 July) we pray for The Salvation Army in the India Northern Territory. Cadets of the India Northern Territory. This territory has 501 officers (395 active, 106 retired); 17 cadets; 3 Envoys; 172 corps; 59,740 senior soldiers; 2142 adherents; 3865 junior soldiers; 250 employees Commissioners Vanlalfela Chawnghlut and Khupchawng Ropari lead the territory. The work of the USA Territory includes: · Education · Health services · Food services · Support for elderly people. Praise points: · We praise God for the success of the Cadets’ Commissioning and Ordination ‘Keepers of the Covenant’ Session 2024–2026. · We praise God for the successful Home League rallies held throughout the territory. The India Northern Territory has almost 60,000 soldiers. Prayer Requests: · May the Lord grant wisdom, discernment, strength, good health and peace to our territorial leadership so that they may lead his people according to his will. · Pray for the Territorial Commander, Commissioner Vanlalfela, and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, Commissioner Ropari’s Retirement and Farewell service on 26 July 2026, as they prepare to retire on 31 July 2026. · Pray for the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) retention. · Pray for the new session ‘Rescued’ 2026-2028, beginning in June. · Pray for the 17 new cadets (8 couples and 1 single). · Pray for the Training College staff. · Pray for the good health of both retired and active officers. · Pray for new leadership: Territorial Commander Colonel Abraham Lincoln Mudda, and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries Colonel Mudda Mercy Manjula. And also for Lieut-Colonel Robert Masih and Lieut-Colonel Sunita Robert as they take up their responsibilities from 1 August 2026. · Pray for the spiritual growth of our people. To find out more about the India Northern Territory, click here. To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, and to download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here.

Nathan Stafford helping out with fundraising for the Red Shield Appeal with Salvationist Di Hill and her son Andrew (in background). BY HANNAH BRABROOK Nearly 20 years ago, Nathan Stafford walked through the doors of The Salvation Army’s Foster House in Sydney at one of the lowest points in his life. Homeless, battling addiction and facing the prospect of jail, Nathan couldn’t see a way forward. Today, he is a devoted husband and father, a successful businessman, and a social media personality known for travelling around Australia mowing lawns for free and helping people in need. Most people know him as ‘the lawn-mower man’ – the guy behind Nathan’s Lawns and Gardens. Nathan established his lawn-mowing enterprise in 2010. Photo courtesy of his website But Nathan is quick to acknowledge that his life could have turned out very differently. Returning to Foster House recently, Nathan reflected on the role the Salvos played in helping him rebuild his life. “I lived in this place just over 20 years ago,” Nathan said. “I was homeless, doing some silly stuff, and I came into here before getting my life on track. I spent about three months in here. I’m very grateful for this place.” Walking back through the doors brought back powerful memories. “It brings back a lot of memories today of where I was then to where I am now,” he said. “They do a remarkable job here.” Nathan recalls being in a desperate state when he first arrived at Foster House. “Not good,” he said. “I was looking at possibly going to jail, or I was up at a bridge going, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore.’ That’s the reality.” The entrance to Foster House in Sydney. A chance encounter led him to The Salvation Army. Someone he met on the street gave him a phone number and encouraged him to make contact. At first, he resisted. “I didn’t want to,” Nathan admitted. “Then, eventually, one night I did.” What happened next changed the course of his life – he met Foster House workers, Salvation Army officers (now retired), Majors Peter and Ruth Dollin. “She just gave me a hug and said everything was going to be all right,” he said. “I needed someone that understood,” he said. “They weren’t there to judge me. They were there to explain that there was a better life out there and that I had a really good chance to change and live the life everyone deserves to have.” Retired officers Majors Peter and Ruth Dollin shared a heartfelt message with Nathan. During his return visit to Foster House, Nathan was surprised by a video message from the pair. “We are so proud of you, Nathan,” Ruth said in the message. “We’ve seen you come from being in a very vulnerable space to now being a man, a dad and a lovely husband.” Overcome with emotion, Nathan described them as “two of the most beautiful people” he has ever met. Asked what message he would send back to them, Nathan’s response was simple: “I wouldn’t be here without you two. I’m very thankful.” Nathan believes his story proves the difference one person can make when they choose to believe in someone. “They saved my life,” he said. “I couldn’t see how I could get out of this, and they just backed me the whole way.” Today, Nathan is sharing that same sense of hope with others. Through his popular social media channels, he travels across Australia, helping people in need by mowing lawns for free and often providing financial assistance and practical support to those doing it tough. For him, there is a clear connection between the support he received from The Salvation Army and the way he now chooses to serve others. “I think it’s very important to give back,” he said. “If you’ve lived the life I did and been able to get back over that line and change, it’s very important to give back and show how grateful you are for it.” Nathan believes that services like Foster House play a vital role in helping people rebuild their lives and build positive futures. “I’ve seen firsthand the many people that have come through here who have probably been written off like myself and been able to change their lives.” Nathan hopes more Australians will get behind services like Foster House so they can continue transforming lives for years to come. “These places need funding, and they need donations,” he said. “I just hope everyone gets behind them.” As he walked through Foster House once again, Nathan’s story served as a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of compassionate support, practical assistance and of people who refuse to give up on others. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in someone. For Nathan, that belief changed everything. Hannah Brabrook works as a Media Relations Officer with The Salvation Army. She was part of the team that created the recent Channel 7 TV Special ‘The Shield that Changes Lives’. Watch here Australian journalist and television presenter Monique Wright interviews Nathan on the Channel 7 special, ‘The Shield the Changes Lives’.

Major Mal Davies (Victoria Divisional Commander) officially opens the Catalyst Tiny House Project at Rosebud Corps together with Simon Brooks (Dromana Association President), who started the project and built the home, and Greg Fitzgerald from the Rotary Club of Dromana. (Photo courtesy of Southern Peninsula News, Mornington Peninsula. Photographer: Yanni Dellaportas) BY LERISSE SMITH One Tiny Home. One life changed. One community coming together. That’s the vision behind an exciting new initiative on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula: a single Tiny Home with the power to change a life for people aged over 55. Driven by compassion, collaboration, and a shared commitment to tackling homelessness in a region facing a critical shortage of accommodation, the initiative was the brainchild of the Rotary Club of Dromana, which donated the Catalyst Tiny House Project to The Salvation Army Homelessness Services. The club wants to make a meaningful difference in the lives of mature-aged people struggling to find a roof over their heads, and the recent launch of the Tiny Home at Rosebud has caused much excitement. Simon Brooks (left) and Greg Fitzgerald take a final look at the completed Tiny Home before the first tenant moves in. (Photo courtesy of Southern Peninsula News, Mornington Peninsula. Photographer: Yanni Dellaportas) “It really is a fantastic example of The Salvation Army, the church, the homeless services and the chaplain coming all together to really support the person (the tenant) to move forward in their life,” says John Cullen, Homelessness Manager – Victoria East. “With the homelessness model of care, and our mission and values, it’s about treating someone with respect. It’s very important to us that in no way should they (the tenant) feel like this is a charity situation, that they should be grateful. “It really is about just coming alongside someone and journeying with them to help them move forward with what they need. So, it’s a very respectful, dignified approach, and obviously a very exciting one.” Designed as a stepping stone rather than a permanent solution, the accommodation will be available for up to six months. Throughout that time, Homelessness Services will work closely with the tenant to help them transition to long-term housing and get them on their feet – a step towards a permanent home. The project began when the Rotary Club of Dromana approached The Salvation Army with a simple idea: to donate a Tiny Home to someone experiencing homelessness. With the Rosebud Corps site having ample land, the church was identified as the ideal location. The Tiny Home initiative was the brainchild of the Rotary Club of Dromana who donated the Catalyst Tiny House Project to The Salvation Army Homelessness services. After the necessary approvals were secured, The Salvation Army accepted the generous gift of the Tiny Home – a community-led and delivered project. Dromana Association President Simon Brooks built the Tiny Home using Australian-made products wherever possible, with donated and subsidised time, labour and materials from local businesses and donations from local service clubs and the community. The architect-designed home features a planned layout with a front sitting area, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. “It is obviously very generous of Rotary to donate this home to us because we couldn’t have done it without them doing that,” says John. Designed for safe, temporary living, the Tiny Home will provide accommodation for someone in the local community, with referrals managed through The Salvation Army Homelessness Services in Rosebud. “They (the Salvos) see homeless clients all the time,” he adds. “People reach out to them urgently needing accommodation.” Through these services, staff will assess people experiencing homelessness to determine who is the best fit for the home, while other community agencies will also be able to refer people to the Salvos if they feel they are suitable. Careful assessment is central to the program. John said the homelessness team would ensure each applicant was suited to living alongside the corps’ thrift shop and on corps land. Simon Brooks (Dromana Association President) speaks at the official launch of the Tiny House project, a community-led and delivered project. “I think the unique thing with the Tiny Home is that it’s a very modern, really nice little home,” he says. “It is really someone’s home, and having it next to the corps means that the corps is there if the person wants to be part of the corps community as well.” Beyond shelter, the location also creates opportunities for connection with the corps. Positioned alongside the corps, the Tiny Home allows the tenant to engage with the faith community if they choose. The corps will respect the person’s privacy while leaving invitations in the letterbox for activities such as the Companion Club, church services, or other community programs. The decision to participate will always rest with the tenant. During their stay, the tenant will also pay subsidised rent. Adding another layer of support, Peninsula & Gateways Homelessness chaplain Andrea Elkington will act as a connector among Homelessness Services, the corps and the tenant to ascertain how it is going. The homelessness support team will also conduct regular check-ins with the tenant to ensure everything is running smoothly and to identify any additional support they may need to move forward in their life. Practical support also extends beyond the Tiny Home itself. The Rosebud Corps has purchased a washing machine and dryer for use in the corps building, providing the tenant with convenient access to essential laundry facilities. Although only one Tiny Home is currently planned for the Rosebud Corps site, those behind the initiative hope it will be the first step towards something much bigger. “The aim is for Rotary to use this as a pilot,” says John. “And then hopefully get some local council land to put more homes. I’m hoping that through this initiative, there will be more Tiny Homes available in the local community, and while they may not necessarily be linked in with The Salvation Army, it certainly does mean that a rough sleeper, possibly someone who’s got nowhere to go, all of a sudden has a Tiny Home.” Looking ahead, continuous improvement remains a key priority for the project. The program will be reviewed every six months, with tenant feedback playing a vital role in refining the model and shaping its future direction. “Tenant feedback will be crucial,” says John. “Every six months we’ll keep reviewing, see what we can improve, what can be tweaked, so that’s sort of the aim.” Salvation Army Band members entertained guests at the official launch of the Tiny Home. He also adds that one of the project’s greatest strengths is the growing partnership between the Homelessness Services and the corps, with this collaboration being key to the model’s success. As that relationship continues to develop within The Salvation Army, opportunities remain for tenants to connect with the faith community, should they choose. “It doesn’t mean that our services are conditional to the tenant,” he explains. “But we’re certainly a faith-based Christian organisation, and that is obviously a key component and a link to what we do, and that if someone (the tenant) is looking for a community, for fellowship – the corps is there to offer that.” For more information on the Catalyst Tiny House Project, click here.

The work of my life, in the office and outside it, is to create spaces where different kinds of hope can coexist, writes Amanda Brummell Lennestaal. With today marking International Day of Hope, TSA General Manager Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Amanda Brummell Lennestaal writes about the quiet work of hoping. I want to tell you something honest about hope. Not the version that arrives wrapped in a bow, trailing certainty behind it. Not the kind that says 'it will be okay'. That kind of hope, however well meant, has never once helped me. Mostly it has made me feel more alone in whatever I was carrying. The hope I know is smaller than that. Quieter. Sometimes it is barely a breath. I think of a candle. Sometimes it burns robustly against real darkness, unflinching. Sometimes it sits atop a birthday cake, joyful, a little triumphant. Sometimes it marks a grave, steady and solemn, the only warmth in an unbearable room. And sometimes it is on the absolute verge of being snuffed out, trembling with each movement of air, so fragile you find yourself holding your own breath so as not to be the thing that extinguishes it. All of those are the same candle. All of those are hope. Hope in hard places Part of my work is sitting with people in hard places. People carrying things that are heavy and complex and sometimes invisible to everyone around them. In that space, I have learned that hope is not something you perform. It is something you practise, quietly, imperfectly, often without knowing if it is working. That kind of hope is not optimism. It is not confidence. It is a decision made in the body before the mind catches up. It is showing up again. From the outside it can look like stubbornness. From the inside, it often just looks like Tuesday. I am also a mother. Three daughters, each extraordinary, each navigating a world that asks more of them than it should. There are days when I watch them and something in me floods with a feeling I can only call hope; involuntary and overwhelming. There are other days when I walk with one of them through something painful and I cannot find hope at all. On those days, I have learned to look for it somewhere outside myself. Hope looks unique for everyone That is perhaps the truest thing I know about hope: you are not always the one who has to carry it. There have been seasons when I could not locate hope anywhere in my own body. On those days I went outside. I walked. I let the sky be very large and my problems very small for just long enough to take the next breath. I wrote things down, not to resolve them but to make them visible, because named things are somehow more survivable than the shapeless dark. I sat with my daughters and let their presence be enough. Sometimes that was all hope was: not a belief that things would improve, but a reason to stay in the room. Hope looks different depending on who you are and what you have survived. It is shaped by culture, by faith, by the kind of losses you carry. My hope is not your hope. What sustains me may mean nothing to you. What you reach for when darkness comes may be entirely foreign to my experience. I do not think that’s a problem; I think it’s the whole point. The work of my life, in the office and outside it, is to create spaces where different kinds of hope can coexist. Where yours doesn’t have to look like mine to count. Where the tentative flame is as honoured as the robust one. Where we are allowed to say 'I can’t find it right now' and have someone else say 'that’s alright, I’ll hold it for you'. Someone has done that for me. More than once. It is the most profound act I know.

Salvation Army Emergency Services are expanding their response in earthquake-ravaged Venezeula. BY IHQ COMMUNICATIONS As the humanitarian impact of the earthquakes in Venezuela continues to deepen, The Salvation Army’s response continues across Caracas and La Guaira, where teams are carrying out assessments, coordinating with local partners and distributing essential relief supplies. This includes prepared meals, dry food rations, drinking water, hygiene items and other practical support for people affected by the disaster. Support is also being provided to first responders, including refreshments, hygiene supplies and practical assistance as they continue their work in difficult conditions. Alongside this, Salvation Army teams and local church partners are offering prayer, spiritual care and emotional support to individuals and families facing trauma, loss and uncertainty. Additional personnel support is now being arranged through The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services team, working closely with regional leadership to strengthen the ongoing response. According to current reports, at least 3535 people have lost their lives, more than 16,740 have been injured and tens of thousands remain unaccounted for. More than 800 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, adding further strain for affected communities and those working to support them. Salvation Army personnel provide a caring and professional approach in responding to emergencies and those impacted. Increased response As the situation develops, the response is beginning to move beyond immediate relief alone. While urgent humanitarian needs remain significant, early recovery priorities are also becoming clearer as communities begin the long process of restoration. Operations continue to be coordinated through Emmanuel Church, which is serving as a key hub for relief activity and distribution. The Salvation Army is also working to identify beneficiaries and map communities to help ensure that support reaches underserved areas. Transport and logistics remain among the greatest challenges. Congestion, damaged infrastructure and limited vehicle capacity continue to affect movement, making additional transportation resources vital for assessments, distributions and engagement with affected communities. Response teams work with first responders as further damage and needs assessments are made. The Salvation Army remains deeply grateful for the prayers and support being offered for the people of Venezuela, for families still searching for loved ones, for children and vulnerable people affected by the disaster and for the small but dedicated response team working alongside friends from Emmanuel Church. Please continue to offer prayers for the people of Venezuela, for families still searching for loved ones, for children and vulnerable people affected by the disaster and for the small but dedicated response team working alongside friends from Emmanuel Church.