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Sam Pho with MultiConnexions CEO, Sheba Nandkeolyar at the RSA Multicultural launch in May 2024. Image: File BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE A retired Salvation Army officer who arrived in Australia as a refugee has recently been awarded for his contributions to the community. Lieutenant-Colonel Xuyen (Sam) Tam Pho Liu, who served for more than 30 years in both corps and executive roles throughout the Australia Territory, was awarded the Chinese Australian Achievers Award 2025 for Community Service. The awards are presented biennially by the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne, and celebrate the ingenuity, talent, creativity and contributions of Chinese Australians. Sam, who has both Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, recently revealed on the Stories of Hope podcast  with Major Bryce Davies that almost five decades ago, he arrived in Melbourne as a refugee from Vietnam via Malaysia somewhat by fluke, as he was originally set to be placed on a boat to Brisbane, but a slip-up on a medical exam had led to him being sent south instead. Sam accepting his award. Image: Chris Crewthers MP It was through his settling in Melbourne that he encountered The Salvation Army, attended training college and later took on officership. He has since held a number of Salvation Army appointments, including Corps Officer, Media and Information Officer, Officer Commanding for the Hong Kong and Macau Territory, Canberra-based National Secretary, National Director for Multicultural Ministry, and Executive Manager for Indigenous and Multicultural Media and Community. Additionally, Sam has championed the cause of migrants and refugees in Australia and sought to bring issues faced by those of diverse backgrounds into public discussion. In 2020, he wrote a reflection for Common Grace’s Refugee Week campaign about his own story, and what he had learnt through his experience as a refugee. “I have always been grateful for the provision the Australian Government afforded me when I arrived in Melbourne, 42 years ago, as a refugee from war-torn Vietnam,” he wrote. “Accommodation, food and financial support in the initial settlement made it easier for me to start a new life. These practical means were the essential ways to welcome me into the country. “However, connecting with people required a different approach. It could not be ordered by government regulations. It could only rely on the goodwill of the community. I found when I opened myself to others, a genuine acceptance will surely be given in return. I too have learned to welcome others as a result.” To find out more about the awards and other 2025 recipients, see here .

Did you know that the Tanzania Territory has more than 12,000 senior soldiers, and its education programs focus on children struggling, not just with endemic poverty and gender inequality, but disabilities and abandonment? 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 (2-8 February)   we pray for the Tanzania Territory.   This territory has 243 officers (227 active, 16 retired); 18 cadets; 93 corps; 49 outposts; 12,238 senior soldiers; 3677 adherents; 11,369 junior soldiers; 115 employees.   Colonels Mary and Samuel Mkami lead the Tanzania Territory. The work of the territory includes: ·  Schools and education (4 schools, 1200 youth club members) ·  Village savings and loan associations ·  Community health services ·  Modern slavery and human trafficking response. The Tanzania Territory works to include children of all abilities in its sports' programs.   Prayers for the territory: Praise points: Thanksgiving for God’s protection over the territory in the past year and for all the blessings we received, good health for all officers, employees and all people related to the Salvation Army ministry all over the territory. Children at The Salvation Army's Matumaini School. Matumaini means ‘hope’ in Swahili. Since the school started in 1967, it has been providing education and hope to primary school children living with physical disabilities and albinism. Prayer requests Poverty and gender inequality are the underlying issues facing children across Tanzania. ·       Pray for the dedication of all territorial, divisional and corps plans to God. We ask you to pray for the success of all the programs in relation to officers’ seminars, local officers teaching and planned youth meetings. ·       Pray for renewal of commitment to Salvationist values and discipline. ·       For unity among leadership: territorial, divisional and corps offices all around the territory, keeping in mind that unity is power. ·       For God’s direction for self-sustainability projects, institutions and development programs. ·       Spiritual revival in corps worship, holiness meetings, and prayer gatherings. Pray that The Salvation Army in the territory put more emphasis on: Discipleship, Youth & Family Ministries. Colossians 2:6–7 ; 2 Peter 3:18        ·       Pray for renewed passion for evangelism and soul-winning in divisional, corps and territorial levels. ·       As we go through a post-election period which was marred by violence, we ask you to pray for peace, stability and righteousness in Tanzania as a nation.     Find out more about the Tanzania Territory here . Find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus here . Download the 2026 prayer schedule here .

Hamilton Salvos Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant, Mark Thomas (left) and Anthony Bolden, who initiated Tins in the Bin, are not only good mates, but are saving lives across Victoria’s Southern Grampians district through the provision of essential food relief and material aid. One phone call was all it took. It has since saved lives. When Anthony Bolden, a local resident in regional Victoria, set out to help people doing it tough, he could never have imagined it would become ‘Tins in the Bin’ - an extraordinary grassroots initiative that has since delivered well over a tonne of food to local community members. Together with his good mate, Mark Thomas from Hamilton Salvos, this unstoppable duo has become a trusted lifeline - and a force for good - as Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH reports.   Mark Thomas pulls no punches.   He has seen firsthand the great hardship facing community members across the Southern Grampians.   “I reckon there’d be 12 people that say that they wouldn’t be alive if they didn’t have the food that we give them,” reflects the Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant at Hamilton Salvos.   “I’m going to one (local resident) this afternoon. When I first met him, he was living off Pigface plants in their front yard. He was in his late 60s, stooped over from malnutrition. He couldn’t carry the food box I gave him. I had to take it into his kitchen. He was skin and bone. He was just in tears when I gave him food.”   Several years on, the transformation is unmistakable.   “Now he meets us at the door, carries the box, he’s joined the community, and spends time with his grandchildren ... he’s even taking in other people who are homeless. We’re feeding them as well.”   Another client, who once weighed just 42 kilograms, has since regained weight and improved their health and strength through regular food support.   The remarkable impact of the Tins in the Bin initiative, along with the other two main suppliers of food relief and material aid, Foodshare and Salvos Stores donations, is real and immediate – lives sustained, dignity restored and hidden crises eased.   At its heart, Tins in the Bin operates on a simple premise – that no family goes without – backed by Anthony Bolden’s rock-solid belief that small acts of kindness have the power to transform lives.   And it all began with a phone call.   Wanting to better understand what was happening locally for people needing help, Anthony, a local Coleraine resident who works for an earthmoving company, rang the Salvos in Hamilton to ascertain what was really happening on the ground.   “I didn’t know how bad our area was here,” he admits. The incredible generosity of Southern Grampians residents who, despite facing great hardship themselves, still donate non-perishable food and other items to the bins in their local supermarkets to help others.   After a few calls, he reached Mark, whose role extends to being the Food Coordinator, who shared the stark reality: how many people were seeking help, how many were fed weekly at the church, and how many food hampers were being delivered across the region.   “It was quite a shock,” Anthony remarked.   Mark then asked him if he wanted to volunteer.   “I said no, I work full-time. But I asked, “What do you need?” recalled Anthony. “And he said, “Food.”  So, I said, “Right, I’ll see what I can do.’”   That conversation sparked an idea.   Starting with a single donation bin in his driveway, Anthony invited locals clearing out their cupboards to drop off non-perishable food for Mark to distribute.   “I thought it was going to be quite small at the start,” he says. “But it grew quickly.”   What began at home soon expanded into local supermarkets, which embraced and supported the initiative, including barbecues and fundraising, and now includes the local post office and bank.   It has been a remarkable success far beyond what Anthony could have imagined – and the name came almost by accident.   “I was interviewed by a young reporter who asked, ‘Have you got a name?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. It’s not rocket science – you put a tin in a bin,” explained Anthony. “And he said, ‘Well, there you go! And it’s gone off from there.’”   Today, Tins in the Bin has provided well over a tonne of food, with weekly donations and regulars donors who give each week. Tins in the Bin all began with a phone call. Wanting to better understand what was happening locally for people needing help, Anthony (right), a local Coleraine resident, spoke with Mark who shocked Anthony with how many people were seeking help, fed weekly, and the demand for food hampers. Each week, Anthony collects non-perishable food from the bins, and Mark picks it up during regular deliveries or when emergency packages are needed. Sometimes, Mark can drive up to two hours away to deliver food to those who need it.   And the need is great.   Skyrocketing rents, rising living costs, illness or unemployment can quickly leave individuals and families unable to pay bills.   Mark says there is a “phenomenal” number of people doing it tough. People are living in cars and sheds, and isolated in bushland, often without power or water.   Testament to this is a delivery to a local resident out bush who has no other contact with anyone else – except Mark. He has no utilities and will speak for just a few minutes – quietly saying thank you for the hamper. If he has spare vegetables, he will give them to Mark.   Mark and his Hamilton Salvos team feed around 190 people a week, including their local community meals. Food is also placed on outdoor tables at the Salvos – sometimes discreetly picked up at 2am.   Yet even amid hardship, against all odds, generosity flows.   “People doing it tough themselves still put a tin in,” Mark says. “They think, ‘If I’m struggling, others must be worse off.’ That’s the heart of it.”   In the predominantly farming Southern Grampians region, hardship spreads quickly. When farmers struggle, local businesses follow – one café closed after customers could no longer afford cake with their coffee. Anthony sees himself as the “middle man”, connecting people in need with Mark.    And the help goes beyond food.   Anthony recalls recently visiting a man who literally had nothing after being released from hospital and moved to a unit with only the clothes on his back – no toaster, no kettle, no way to heat up food. The Grampians community has responded with generosity to help their fellow community members struggling to make ends meet. Together with Mark, they provided the basics immediately, along with a hamper.   “I’m proud that I’ve become that middle man,” Anthony says. “I know from the past it’s not that easy to get hold of someone if you don’t know where to go or who to talk to.”   The ripple effects have even reached unexpected places – including the local police station.   “Once meal deliveries started, shoplifting basically dropped to near zero,” Mark says. “Police told us it happened within months.”   Mark credits Anthony’s extraordinary dedication to initiating Tins in the Bin, saying their working relationship – and friendship – is something special. They are mates who speak regularly throughout the week.   Keeping Tins in the bin local matters.   “Because this is where I live,” Anthony reflects. “It’s about the whole community … If you’re hungry, we’ll make sure you’re alright.”   And once a year, the community rallies together for a highlight on the calendar – the annual ‘Tins in the Bin Family Fun Day’. Anthony with the SES’s ‘Paddy Platypus’ at the Tins in the Bin Family Fun Day. The annual event has been an incredible success uniting the community together where so many are doing it tough​​. Last year, the event raised nearly $6000 to help the community. The event was designed to be affordable for families while raising awareness and funds for the Christmas and back-to-school seasons. Last year, the event drew 1500 to 2000 people and raised just under $6000. Funds were distributed directly to the Salvos, the local St Vincent de Paul, and the Hamilton Uniting Church, supporting Christmas vouchers, food, and essentials such as hams and turkeys for Christmas lunches.   Support has also come from further afield. In the wake of the Grampians bushfires, ‘Turbans 4 Australia’ donated and delivered 22 pallets of supplies, plus a huge truck of toys for Christmas.   Today, Tins in the Bin supports multiple agencies, supplies a range of items from hygiene products to pet food, and reaches people often invisible to the system.   And Anthony plans for the project to continue to go from strength to strength in the community.   So, what’s his ethos?   “Everything in life has an opposite,” he says, adding it’s helped him in the past. “So, where there’s a negative, there has to be a positive. Even if you’re having a bad day, you know you’re going to have a good day because everything has an opposite.”   For those interested in donating to Tins in the Bin, contact Anthony at: Tony _ Bolden@hotmail.com or 0401 925 082.

Salvation Army teams provide essential supplies and spiritual support in the face of devastating wildfires. As catastrophic wildfires spread through the Biobío Region in southern Chile, Salvation Army Disaster Response Teams are deployed at ground zero, providing holistic support to affected communities.   The devastating fires, which began on 16 January, have burned nearly 30,000 hectares, destroying more than 750 homes and leaving 6707 people homeless. At least 21 lives have been lost and around 50,000 people were evacuated as the fires spread rapidly. Salvation Army teams are prioritising the most urgent needs, and coordinating the preparation and distribution of food, drinking water and essential hygiene items. Officers and volunteers are working from two nearby corps and installed two soup kitchens to ensure sustained humanitarian assistance.   Alongside emergency relief, the teams are offering much-needed emotional and spiritual support to families who have lost their homes and even loved ones. These efforts are taking place as government agencies continued evacuations, damage assessments and early recovery planning.   The Salvation Army in Chile remains committed to a rapid, compassionate and coordinated response to this and other emergencies, serving people in need both materially and spiritually.   The Salvation Army asks for prayers for the affected communities, for its teams on the ground and for effective coordination with local authorities, trusting in God’s guidance and provision at every stage of the response. Chile is part of the South America West Territory.

The Dalziels, original members of The Joystrings, sharing with staff at International Headquarters in London last week. Retired Lieut-Colonels Peter and Sylvia Dalziel – two original members of The Salvation Army’s pioneering pop group from the 1960s, The Joystrings – were special guests at International Headquarters (IHQ) last week.   At the IHQ Family Prayers event on Thursday 28 January, The Dalziels presented a fascinating account of how five unsuspecting young Salvationists from The Salvation Army’s International Training College in London were thrust into the popular music spotlight, enabling them to share the story of Jesus and God’s lovingkindness in some of the most unlikely places.   These included Soho’s Playboy Club and lunchtime engagements at the Ford Motor Company, where they played to staff. Many thousands responded to their music and their message!   Part of the post-WWII explosion of new young pop acts, they rubbed shoulders with the likes of The Beatles at Abbey Road studios, Tom Jones, the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits. They had several Top 40 hits, the first being ‘It’s an Open Secret’. All of their songs carried the message of the difference that faith in God makes. The Joystrings – Peter Dalziel, Joy Webb, Sylvia (Gair) Dalziel, Wycliffe Noble and Bill Davidson. The story of The Joystrings, said Peter and Sylvia, reminds us how God opens doors in extraordinary ways, and we need to be ready to walk through them.   These ‘God-doors’ lead to opportunities far beyond anything we could imagine; how Holy Spirit-led sharing of the love and redemption of Jesus can happen through bold and unconventional ways when God has the pre-eminence in our lives and the life of The Salvation Army.   The original five-member Joystrings were led by classically trained keyboard player and singer Joy Webb.   After appearing on Cliff Michelmore’s BBC Tonight television show, they were given a recording contract by EMI Records. In 1964, they became the first Salvation Army pop group to achieve chart success with ‘ It’s an Open Secret ’ and ‘A Starry Night’.   The Dalziels promote Sylvia’s book at the IHQ event. The main members through the years were Joy Webb (who wrote the group's first hit), Peter and Sylvia Dalziel, Bill Davidson and Wycliffe Noble. The group had a number of other singers drawn, at intervals, from cadets at the William Booth Memorial College at Denmark Hill, London.   In September 2013, 50 years after the Joystrings' formation, Sylvia Dalziel published her memoir,  The Joystrings: The Story of the Salvation Army Pop Group . The book can be purchased here . Wycliffe Noble was promoted to glory on 1 April 2017, aged 91, and  Joy Webb died on 1 October 2023, also aged 91. *Story reproduced from The Salvation Army International Facebook site and other facts from Wikipedia WATCH MORE: The Joystrings – The Salvation Army pop group

Throughout the Old Testament, God is repeatedly described as being compassionate, writes Captain Laura Van Schaick. Image: Getty BY CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK* Empathy has been getting a bad rap lately. The book Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion by Allie Beth Stuckey, which became a New York Times bestseller in late 2024, argues that “empathy has become a tool of manipulation”. Josh McPherson, lead pastor of Grace City Church in Wenatchee, Washington, shared in a March 2025 podcast that “empathy almost needs to be struck from the Christian vocabulary.” Even PBS News published an article in August 2025 posing the question, “Is empathy a sin?” Obviously, the word empathy has become contentious, particularly in some Christian circles. Historian Susan Lanzoni, who explored empathy’s uses and definitions in her 2018 book Empathy: A History , shared with PBS that “she has never seen the aspirational term so derided as it is now”. Granted, the word hasn’t been around all that long. Empathy appeared in an English publication for the first time in 1908, taken from a German word, meaning “in-feeling.” Today’s common definition, “the ability to understand and appreciate another person’s feelings,” comes from a 1946 professional psychology journal. However, despite being relatively new to the English language, the idea behind the word empathy is much older. In fact, it forms a core teaching across many religions, including Christianity. Nijay Gupta, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Illinois, suggests on his blog that “the Bible is, in fact, a story of empathy, God’s compassion for us who are sinners (which is all of us), and his desperate and relentless pursuit of redemption.” Throughout the Old Testament, God is repeatedly described as being compassionate. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the term eusplanchnos , which literally means “good-guts”—significant for a culture that associated guts with feelings and human depth of emotion. Jesus also repeatedly demonstrated this during his ministry on earth. When Jesus saw the crowds around him, we read that he often felt compassion for them (see Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32). Jesus recognized and responded to the emotions and pain of others. As Gupta points out, “He did not talk about why they were poor or struggling or lost. He just wanted to help them.” The Apostle Paul also seems to teach about the importance of empathy in his letter to the Romans when he urges the early Christians to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). He is encouraging people to understand, appreciate and even enter into another’s emotional experience, to embrace the feelings of those around them. This is the definition of empathy. And then, of course, there is the Incarnation of Jesus. When Jesus took on human form, he embodied empathy, experiencing the full range of human emotions, limitations and suffering. Empathy is not a New Age concept, nor is it dangerous. It is deeply biblical. Our ability to experience empathy is something that sets us apart as those made in the image of God, and when we show empathy, we are living as Jesus modelled. So why are so many Christians apparently threatened by it? The main concern seems to be the perception that, by embracing empathy, contemporary Western society is making decisions based on feelings rather than facts, moving us away from objectivity and blurring moral clarity. Some even fear that it makes us vulnerable to manipulation and affirms sinful actions. I find this type of thinking very black and white, when there needs to be a both/and approach. While I agree that we shouldn’t make decisions based solely on feelings, we should allow our capacity to recognize and respond to suffering to shape our decisions and help us form and inform policy to create a healthy society. God gave us the ability to think rationally and respond emotionally to the pain of others. The two are not mutually exclusive. A quote attributed to philosopher Hannah Arendt, who wrote extensively in the 1950s on totalitarianism and the human condition, hits a bit too close to home: “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.” The heart of the gospel has always been a radical, countercultural call to love extravagantly and without limitations. What if, rather than fearing empathy, we stayed focused on what Jesus taught was important? Welcoming the stranger, showing hospitality to the foreigner, extending compassion to the marginalized, caring for the widow and the orphan. May we imitate our empathetic God, not fearing our feelings, but embracing them as we seek to live out the command to love our neighbours as ourselves. *Captain Laura Van Schaick is the corps officer at Barrhaven Church in Ottawa, Canada, and the Territorial Gender Equity Officer. This article first appeared in Salvationist Magazine here .

Cadets of the 2026 ‘Rescued’ session in relaxed mode during Orientation Week this week – (from left) Mike Salomo, Rachelle Atkinson, Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice, Chantal Tait, Jessica Gorringe, Caleb Gorringe, Reuben Van Gaalen, Bramwell Nemhara and Wati Seeto. BY LERISSE SMITH ​​​​ Laugh, learn – and love much! These three powerful words set the tone for an unforgettable Orientation Week for this year’s nine cadets of The Salvation Army’s  Rescued  session at Melbourne’s Eva Burrows College. The special event held this week centred on exploring what to expect in 2026, introductions to the rhythm of college life, invitations to reflect on their journey of becoming in Christ, opportunities to celebrate and worship in community, as well as time and space to embrace unplanned moments of grace. “Orientation Week offers a sacred, life-giving encouragement designed for the cadets’ growth,” said Captain Kylie Herring, Leader Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College. “We encourage the cadets to open their hearts fully to the experience – to laugh, learn and love much!” The 2026 cadets of the  Rescued  session are: Caleb Gorringe (Long Jetty Corps, NSW), Jessica Gorringe (Long Jetty Corps, NSW), Chantal Tait (Kwinana Corps, WA), Mike Salomo (Macarthur Corps, NSW), Rachelle Atkinson (Mandurah Corps, WA), Reuben Van Gaalen (Coffs Harbour Corps, NSW), Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice (Waverley Corps, Vic.), Bramwell Nemhara (Perth Fortress, WA) and Wati Seeto (Fiji). A defining verse marked the beginning of the cadets’ big week: “ Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect well” (Romans 12:2). An exciting, jam-packed week of fun, fellowship and friendship shaped Orientation Week. The many highlights included an ‘Amazing Race’ around the college, dinner with new territorial executive leaders Colonels John and Lani Chamness, and orientation formation sessions covering personal, spiritual, educational, theology, mission and ministry streams.  Dark Side of the Rainbow , an immersive music and film experience, also formed part of the week’s program. Sacred pauses throughout the week allowed the cadets to reflect on their new life journey. Watch a livestream of this event here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqbwA9S1oCE To cap off the week, the cadets are taking part in ‘Prison Island’ – a team-building and problem-solving adventure today held offsite in the city, followed by a retreat day at the Botanic Gardens tomorrow and a special ‘Cadet Welcome’ service at Camberwell Corps on Sunday. Kylie said the  Rescued  session was the largest intake in The Salvation Army’s territory for some time – an exciting milestone for all. Fifteen cadets are currently in Officer Training College, including six cadets of the  2025 ‘Proclaimers of the Transformation’ session. “It is certainly an answer to prayer, and we are thankful for corps officers across the territory who are working to identify, equip and empower emerging leaders,” Kylie said. Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas said she was encouraged by the fresh intake of cadets. “I am rapt that we have nine new cadets this year, on top of the six already in session,” she enthused. “And we have made auxiliary-lieutenants officers over the past months and there’s more to come. “God is doing his new thing and l am so grateful. Join me in thanking God and praying for more leaders!”

Alice and James Barker established Prison-Gate Homes and Rescue Homes (for women) throughout Australia and New Zealand. BY BARRY GITTINS A young couple from the United Kingdom stepped foot on Australian soil on 21 September 1882, disembarking from the SS Cotopax . The Salvation Army’s newly appointed leaders for the Antipodes, Major James Barker and Mrs Alice Barker, had only gotten hitched the day before they went sailing to the other side of the world. James, a printer by trade, was appointed by General William Booth to mix things up Down Under, with the grand title of ‘Australasia Provincial Commander’. And mixing things up is a fair description of the Barkers’ energetic and far-reaching leadership. The Barkers originally planned to arrive in Adelaide, where the Army’s work had officially commenced the previous year under the direction of Thomas and Adelaide Sutherland, but due to labour problems on the Adelaide wharf, the ship was forwarded to Melbourne, where the Barkers disembarked, not knowing a single soul.   However, they were met by one person, 74-year-old Dr John Singleton, the founder of several Christian-oriented welfare agencies, who had heard of the Barkers’ impending arrival. An early-day Salvationist greets two released prisoners outside the gaol gates. James’ friendship and mentoring relationship with the doctor – a philanthropist and leading citizen – led to the Army engaging with prisoners both inside and outside the walls of gaols. Alice and James Barker went on to establish Prison-Gate Homes in Melbourne, Sydney, Ballarat, Auckland and Castlemaine, and also Rescue Homes (for women) in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Sydney, Brisbane, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin. It was the beginning of the Army’s formal, institutional social work throughout the world. James and Alison Barker with their young daughter during their appointment in the ‘Southern Seas’. James was also empowered by the colonial authorities to act as a special constable, taking children out of opium dens and brothels in Melbourne’s CBD and relocating them to safer locations. Dr Singleton had famously met and prayed with the bushranger, Ned Kelly, before he was hanged in 1880. And in 1884, it was his ‘mentee’, James Barker, who enabled Kelly’s executioner, Elijah Upjohn, to join The Salvation Army. A contemporary newspaper later reported: “Upjohn, the ex-public executioner, caused a great sensation at The Salvation Army service last night. He presented himself among the penitents. A number of officers raised an objection and refused to associate with the discarded hangman. Major Barker, however, was firm and received Upjohn as a recruit.” Upjohn was reportedly promoted to glory in 1885. The principle of including people – not judging them – has been an issue the Army has wrestled with ever since. After his Australasian adventures, James Barker’s role back in the UK in implementing the General’s ‘In Darkest England’ scheme, and revolutionising the matchstick industry into the bargain, is another stirring chapter in a well-storied life. It is also recorded that he was instrumental in producing the first War Cry publication in England in December 1879. James Barker was promoted to glory in May 1901, aged 49, succumbing to a diabetes-related illness. Alice Barker was promoted to glory in 1918 at the height of the influenza epidemic. READ MORE: Founder of the Salvos’ social work in Australia

The banner of the new Facebook page for The Salvation Army Australia Museum. The Australia Territory Communications team has launched a new Facebook page for The Salvation Army Australia Museum.   To go to the Facebook page, click here .   The territory has two branches of the museum – in Melbourne (69 Bourke St) and Sydney (166-170 South Parade, Auburn).   Museum Specialists Barry Gittins (Melbourne) and Don Callaghan (Sydney) will regularly update the Facebook page with information and excerpts from our proud Army history. Museum Specialists Barry Gittins (left) and Don Callaghan.   “They will honour the rich legacy of our founders and reflect on the stories, people, and artefacts that shaped The Salvation Army in Australia – while also celebrating how their bold vision continues to guide our mission and ministry today,” said the Communication Department’s Publications Manager, Cheryl Tinker. “From the past to the present, this is a story still being lived.”   We invite you to follow the new Facebook page and experience historical memorabilia, photographs, and records related to The Salvation Army’s operations in Australia from 1880 to the present day.   Salvos Online will continue to regularly upload stories on its Army Archives tab that expand on many of the museum’s Facebook posts.  Meantime, the Sydney branch of the museum, now based out of the Auburn Corps complex, is shaping up nicely. The museum (formerly known as a heritage centre) had been housed at The Salvation Army’s Bexley North property since 1983.   Late last year, Don Callaghan, the Museum Specialist in Sydney, spent months overseeing the packing and moving boxes of memorabilia and items of historic significance. “The museum is on the first floor, and office space and research space is on the second floor,” Don said. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday 9am-2pm, or by appointment: (02) 9502 0424. – Dean Simpson The new-look Salvation Army Australia Museum in Sydney now has thousands of items of historical significance on display.

Captain Oleg, (left) with his wife Captain Dominika Domanska, their daughter, and some members of the Warsaw Corps.. When Captain Oleg Samoilenko arrived in Poland, away from his Ukrainian homeland and all things familiar, everything felt like an uphill battle, but what began as a lonely appointment in Warsaw has become a vibrant international family. BY CAPTAIN OLEG SAMOILENKO   My name is Oleg and I am a Salvation Army officer. I am Ukrainian, but I currently serve as a corps officer in Warsaw, Poland.  I remember my first day at Warsaw Corps back in 2018. One older woman told me there was no place for foreigners in Poland, then the accountant at regional headquarters said she had no time for my questions, and the children at the after-school program did not understand me.   READ MORE: Where there is no more strength, Oleg's story It’s not easy being a foreigner! As an officer, I was keen to communicate with and to get to know my people, so it was difficult for me.  All the attempts I made to be accepted did not work. I was seen as an outsider, and for several years I felt like a stranger in my own corps. I frequently questioned God’s plan for me. Then war broke out in Ukraine in 2022, which brought more than 10 million fellow Ukrainians to Poland. My native language suddenly became so helpful in supporting these vulnerable and lost people, who had left everything to save their lives. God’s timing was starting to make sense.  READ MORE: The Salvation Army Ukraine One day, a woman from Zimbabwe came to our Sunday meeting. She started searching for other Zimbabwean Salvationists in Poland and, a few weeks later, she had found more than 30 people to encourage to attend the corps. Soon after, I was invited to a school that supports migrant children to talk about human trafficking. The young people were so interested in The Salvation Army, and they asked questions about what the Army had to offer them.  Oleg with some of the Zimbabwean youth who attend the corps. We invited them to the corps on the Friday evenings, and bought some games and pizzas for the occasion. Two boys turned up on the first night, but the following Friday they brought 20 friends. Some have since become senior soldiers or are currently going through membership classes.   One thing united them – they were all foreigners, living far from their homeland and trying to find a new home. I knew exactly how they felt and how hard life is as an immigrant.   Language presented one of the greatest challenges. While foreigners often strive to learn the language of their new home, full self-expression remains difficult and humour rarely translates. This becomes especially evident when attempting to pray in a foreign language.  Activities for all ages and cultures are a regular part of ministry. By creating opportunities for people to speak in their native tongue, we have facilitated profound and meaningful conversations. Cultural engagement through traditional cuisine and dance has further deepened these connections, often moving participants to tears. Such small gestures can have a significant impact. Over the years, in moments of doubt, I had questioned why God had placed me in a setting where I felt unwelcome; yet now, encountering these individuals in such circumstances provided clarity and affirmed the purpose behind this calling.    Today, more than 11 nationalities come to our services. We are an international family in which everyone is accepted. We welcome teenagers from Belarus and Ukraine, seniors from Ukraine, refugees from Zimbabwe, Uganda and the Philippines, and people from India and Russia. Our corps is now full of different languages and diverse cultures. All these people have experienced loneliness and discrimination, but in The Salvation Army they are all loved.   Youth from around the world make up some of the 15 languages spoken at the corps. Being a corps officer is now more than just an appointment: my corps is my family. We don’t look on our differences and instead focus on the things that unite us. What began as a struggle to belong became an opportunity to build a spiritual home for people scattered across nations – a family united not by nationality, but by faith and grace.    This article first appeared in The Salvation Army’s international online magazine All the World. It’s part of the  ‘Scattered’ column, inspired by Acts 8:4 : “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”   This column shares ministry perspectives of Salvation Army people serving away from their homeland or in remote and far-flung places.

First responders in Western Australia take a break for a burger and chips, courtesy of The Salvation Army Emergency Services. Image: Facebook BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE With bushfires burning across multiple states, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams are serving food and refreshments to fire crews at large response zones in Victoria and Western Australia. In some areas, corps have also collaborated with SAES to deliver assistance to communities impacted by fire. Crews in WA have spent the past eight days stationed at the Ravensthorpe fire , about five hours south of Perth, where at this stage they will remain until Friday. In addition, the crew spent some time serving meals and refreshments at the Boddington fire, several hours north of Ravensthorpe. Across the two sites, teams served more than 500 personnel at each mealtime. In Victoria, where in parts, temperatures have reached almost 49 degrees, fire crews have been battling to contain a series of blazes in the Otway Ranges, as well as multiple other fires. Victorian teams are facing such extraordinary demand for essentials such as beds, blankets and pillows that supplies are running out. The Victorian SAES have been deployed to a relief centre receiving evacuees from the regions near the Gellibrand, Carlisle River and Beech Forest fires. Yesterday, Victorian teams were also called to an industrial waste fire in Wollert and a grassfire in Camperdown, where 100 and 300 people required food and refreshments. Roads in Camperdown have been blocked, so food is being transported via helicopter. General Manager for Emergency, Aid and Development Daryl Crowden said he was thankful to the Western Victoria Regional team for organising and deploying the additional team for the Camperdown fire. The Salvation Army Emergency Services have been working with the local Colac Corps to provide bedding, material aid and meals for the relief centres at the Otway fire. Colac Corps in Victoria has been assisting in the fire response in the nearby Otway region. Corps Leader Josiah Van Niekerk said his team had been assisting SAES in the response efforts and were mostly concerned with ensuring that while immediate needs were met, evacuees were also getting adequate food assistance and referrals to services in preparation for returning home. He said the team at Colac Corps had opened the corps building to community members for showers, laundry and cool room storage, and was acquiring donations of water, food and other essentials to distribute. He said they had delivered cooked meals to fire crews until 2am this morning, and were back serving breakfast from 6.30am. He said it had been “really, really great” to be a part of seeing what the SAES teams do, and that the collective efforts had amounted to a “massive job”. “We’re open to exploring however we can support the community, and then even getting people connected in with other groups to ensure that the services and the material that is needed for these people to bring their life back together and get going again – we want to ensure that's accessible,” Josiah said. “It’s been a really great experience in that way, to be able to work as a community to ensure everyone's got support.”   Images from WA and Victoria, courtesy of SAES Facebook pages for each state.

Captain Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College, speaks at Commissioning service at Camberwell Corps, Melbourne, in 2024. There is a palpable buzz of excitement across The Salvation Army community, putting smiles of many faces. Why? Oh, that’s easy! One of the largest intakes of cadets in recent years – nine in total – arrives in Melbourne this week to begin a life-changing journey toward officership, a long-held dream for many. Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH spoke with Captain Kylie Herring, Leader Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College, who reflected on the excitement of new beginnings, the challenges ahead, the dynamic process of growth, and the reminder that maturity can’t be microwaved. The 2026 cadets of the Rescued session: Caleb Gorringe – Long Jetty Corps (NSW) Jessica Gorringe – Long Jetty Corps (NSW) Chantal Tait – Kwinana Corps (WA) Mike Salomo – Macarthur Corps (NSW) Rachelle Atkinson – Mandurah Corps (WA) Reuben Van Gaalen – Coffs Harbour Corps (NSW) Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice – Waverley Corps (Vic.) Bramwell Nemhara – Perth Fortress (WA) Wati Seeto – (Fiji)   Kylie, what excites you most about welcoming this new batch of cadets? Lots of things excite me when we start a new year in officer formation. Top of the list this year is that it is a large batch! The Rescued session is the largest session our territory has had for some time. It is certainly an answer to prayer, and we are thankful for corps officers across the territory working to identify, equip and empower emerging leaders. Each intake brings something unique. What stands out to you about this year’s cohort? The answer to that would be having three cadets from the WA Division. We’ve only had two cadets from WA since I commenced in my role in 2022 – so having three all together in the one session is terrific for us and for them. They will have session-mates close by, which we hope will make them feel less isolated. What do you hope cadets discover about themselves during their training and formation? There isn’t a short answer to that question! There is always a lot to discover and uncover when you pay attention to how you are forming across the three spheres – personal and spiritual, mission and ministry, education and theological, and then considering how you are integrating that learning into who you are and how you will minister and lead. We hope they would approach their own formation with curiosity and compassion and be willing to enlarge their sense of identity. From your perspective, what key qualities are most important for cadets as they work towards becoming officers? In a world now described as “super complex”, a key quality for just about anyone is to be a curious learner. One of our cadets talks about thinking like a scientist – which speaks to the need to be curious and open, to take care with your assumptions, to be aware of any biases, and to be careful in jumping to conclusions! Other qualities I would include on that list would be a commitment to growing in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, adaptive and strategic thinking, the ability to operate with flexibility, and an ability to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty, and hold a sense of hope in the midst of navigating the super complexity of our cultural era. Western Australia cadet Chantal Tait (with husband John behind her) was farewelled from Kwinana Corps by Major Scott Ellery on Sunday. How are cadets supported to grow not only professionally but also personally and spiritually throughout their training? There are a lot of support structures in place for cadets. Through their university studies, cadets are supported by student services and by individual lecturers. (As an aside, the University of Divinity has for a few years running had the highest rating for student experience – which says something about the level of commitment to their students). Cadets can access the resources of the officer formation staff; they are allocated an individual training officer and are also supported by their local placement supervising officer, who becomes a ministry coach for the cadet while they are on placement. Cadets also begin professional supervision, which is a necessary part of the Reflective Practice and Supervised Theological Field Education units they undertake (required following the Royal Commission) – so that is another element of professional support they are introduced to, which then continues into their commissioned officership. And what challenges do they commonly face? How does the college help them navigate these during their formation? There are all kinds of challenges cadets face. Some of the major ones relate to managing transition. There is a lot of change to be navigated in the cadet formation journey – often an interstate relocation, leaving friends and family, setting up a new home, becoming familiar with a new location, joining a new faith community on a short term basis, learning a new suite of organisational processes, studying at a tertiary level, getting their head around a range of expectations from different spheres. New cadets will typically set up a group chat where they share their challenges with each other. We have peer groups where life is shared, and there is structured learning along the way relating to navigating change and the range of transitions that come with officer life and life in general. Can you speak to the role cadet placements play in their development, and what these experiences involve? Our dispersed model of training functions in an apprentice-style mode. Cadets are on long placements (typically a year), and their week is a combination of study and ministry experience. They are learning all about the context of their placement – local culture and practice, and they are working with their Local Placement Officer to develop awareness and grow in both ministry practice and leadership skills. What is one piece of advice you would encourage this year’s group to hold close as they begin their journey? That there is great wisdom in cultivating a posture of openness. The process of formation can be disorienting at times, as there is so much ‘new’ coming your way – discovering new things about yourself, about the Bible, about God. Growth is a dynamic process. We have a saying in officer formation that “You can’t microwave maturity”. The journey of becoming – of growing up into Christ – takes a lifetime!