I once attended a corps where, one Sunday morning, the corps officers just didn’t show up.   The meeting was due to start at 10am, and the officers usually arrived about an hour earlier, but the worship band members began to arrive at about 9.15 for a run-through of the morning’s songs and they opened the hall and turned lights on.   At about 9.40, someone thought it was unusual the officers hadn’t arrived and sent them a text message. There was no response, so they called one of the officers at 9.50 and it went through to the message bank. They tried again five minutes later – same response.   At 9.59, the worship leader came to me and said, “I have no idea where they are, and I can’t contact them. I can lead the meeting if you preach. Here’s the meeting lead.” I said, “Okay. Let’s get started.”   So, they followed the prepared meeting lead while I quickly read the chosen Scripture passage for the morning – luckily it was one I was familiar with! About 40 minutes later, with an open Bible in hand, I gave a 20-minute sermon on that passage, which was followed by a response song and then a closing song.   At the end of the service, the worship leader turned his phone back on and there was a message from the CO saying they’d had a family emergency that morning and had gone to hospital, not even having time to send a message to anyone about the Sunday service. All was now well and stable and they were grateful that a Sunday service had happened!   If this ever happens at your corps and you quickly have to come up with a Plan B, here are some other options you could consider:   Plan B: Watch a movie. Most corps have some Christian DVDs lying around that can be shown and then discussed. Maybe don’t go with Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’, although it always makes me laugh.   Plan C: Run a talent show. As long as each item has some sort of Christian link or content, it’s time for people to pull out their best solo, recitation, liturgical dance or impression of the absent corps officer.   Plan D: Take over a restaurant. Be it the local Macca’s or the food court at the shopping centre, it will be a great time of witness and fellowship to descend en masse and spread the love of Christ over a latte. I’d suggest not taking the corps flag to wave around. When you take up the offering, make sure you approach everyone who happens to be using the establishment at the time.   Plan E: Break into small groups, spend some time in prayer and biblical reflection, and then have a Nerf gun battle. The first group to run out of bullets or surrender has to pay the usual offering amount given by the whole congregation.   I’m sure you can come up with some of your own ideas. Be creative. As long as no one tells the corps officers, they’ll never know! – Major Mal Davies is Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division.

To read the PTG notice for Glenyce, click here

The 5:17 Service at Adelaide City Salvos is not your usual Sunday church service. Born from a desire to reach a community with complex needs, the 5:17 service meets on Wednesday nights and is based on 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (NIV). The service has provided the community with a space where they can feel safe, loved and supported and this has been an intrinsic part of leading many to Jesus.

I recently commenced a new appointment in a new office in a new state, which means I get to play one of the games I least like playing: remembering the names of everyone you meet.   While the office team itself isn’t that large, we often talk about officers and employees across the whole division and also at THQ, some of whom I know but many are new to me. This can lead to interesting discussions at times (some details below are omitted).   “Mal, do you know Helen?”   “Helen who?”   “Or, um, you know. The Helen in charge of that unit.”   “Which unit?”   “The _ _ _ unit. Oh, yes, it’s Helen _ _ _.”   “Isn’t she the corps officer at _ _ _ Corps?”   “Oh, yes. The other Helen.”   “So … the Helen that isn’t Helen _ _ _.”   “She’s tallish, dark hair, maybe 40, wears glasses.”   “If I don’t know her, none of that information helps me.”   “She used to work with Allen _ _ _ and Ellen _ _ _ in the _ _ _ department.”   “Are you serious? Helen, Ellen and Allen worked together.”   “Yes, in the _ _ _ department.”   “No, I don’t know any of them.”   “Wait, no! It’s not Helen I’m thinking of, it’s Jennifer. I’m sorry. And she used to work in the _ _ _ department with Kenneth _ _ _ and Gwen _ _ _.”   “So, it was Jen, Ken and Gwen. You really are having me on now, aren’t you? In my last appointment I worked with Ali and Sally and occasionally got called Mally, that was enough for me.”   “Were you close? Did you get really pally with them?”   I walked away.   –      Major Mal Davies is Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division.

To read Evertje’s promoted to glory notice, click here

Brass bands and the Salvos just go well together. The Burnie City Brass Band lost their rehearsal space a couple years ago. When The Salvation Army heard about this, they offered the use of the Burnie Corps facilities. This beautiful collaboration has seen blessings on both sides and continues to go from strength to strength.

While based in the UK for an appointment, I would often use a phrase that would either cause my colleagues to give me a confused look or even laugh out loud.   While occasionally, I confess, I would take delight in playing up to their perception of Australians (‘Crikey!’), often the phrase I’d utter was one that I’ve always used.   For example, I was in a management meeting, and talk turned to an employee who was behaving quite oddly and in a bizarre way. I said, “He’s a sandwich short of a picnic”, and people looked at me like I was a Martian. After a moment’s silence, I realised why they were staring at me and I said, “I could have gone worse; I was going to say he’s got a kangaroo loose in the top paddock.” They all laughed.   So, what are some Army or Bible-based statements we could make about anyone who suddenly behaves in an erratic, weird or unexpected fashion?   “He’s missed a button on his tunic, hasn’t he?”   “She’s a beat or two short of a timbrel solo.”   “He’s missing all the accidentals at the moment.” (This one is more specifically said of a musician.)   “His ark is still floating but he’s already seeing rainbows.”   “She’s dropped her two coins in the box and they haven’t quite landed.”   “His trombone slide has slipped well away and ain’t coming back.”   “She made the curried egg sandwiches but forgot the curry. And the egg.”   “His cap must be a size too small.”   “He’s done a Stephen and got rocks in his head.”   “She’s making me exclaim the Aussie version of Ruth – Strewth.”   “I think someone’s fired a few too many volleys lately.”   I’m sure you can think of your own or try one of these on your friends at church next Sunday. We all know someone who occasionally acts not quite right. In my family, it’s me.   –      Major Mal Davies is Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division.

To view Graham’s promoted to glory notice, click here

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it?   My current appointment is Corps Officer, Eastern Beaches Corps. The title sounds lovely, like beaches etc, but it is deceiving. We are located in the Maroubra Junction with around 13 housing estates in the area. This means our people are ‘high need’ – facing addictions, mental illness, lack of resources and a plethora of other issues. Whilst hard work, it also is what makes it satisfying. No two days are the same. We face so many diverse issues and people and we can see where we make a real difference in people’s lives. I have seen lives totally transformed, e.g, people beat their addictions and find Jesus. This warms and satisfies my heart.   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?   I love the ocean, and in summer, I always need to swim or visit the beach. I love to read a good book. I love to cook and have friends over for dinner. I also like exploring new areas and seeing their coffee shops, etc.    3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it?   I like different songs at different times. At the moment I’m loving ‘Simplicity’ by Rend Collective. It’s a slow, meditative song that speaks to my heart. Particularly the lyrics: I come in simplicity Longing for purity To worship You In spirit and truth Only You Lord, strip it all away ’Til only You remain I’m coming back To my first love Only You You’re the reason I sing The reason I sing Yes, my heart will sing How I love You And forever I'll sing Forever I’ll sing Yes, my heart will sing How I love You I want to be stripped away and fully surrendered.   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?   Deborah! Because she was a strong woman leader, a prophetess and a judge. She was known to hear God’s voice and share it with others. She was a judge in a man’s world. She was known to be wise. I’d love to know how she heard, how she handled leadership, her wisdom and her heart for God.   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?   I’m an officer because God called me to it, and so I would have to say, if you know God has called you into officership, then you grab it and run with it! He knows the plans for your life and the adventure He will take you on. And it is an adventure. But if you don’t feel you are called, if you see it as a job, or a way to serve, then I wouldn’t recommend it. You have to know it’s the call because there are so many ways you can minister in the Kingdom and do the Mission of Jesus. You also have to know you were called by God to hold you in the tough times. But, when it’s right, there is nothing better than seeing people’s lives transformed and advancing the Kingdom on earth through officership and The Salvation Army. – Interview by Lerisse Smith

Tahana Turner is a proud Bundjalung woman and Divisional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator for Queensland. Here, she chats with Major Mark Everitt (Divisional Commander for Queensland) about the theme for NAIDOC Week 2024 – ‘Blak, Loud and Proud’ and the importance of being bold, knowing who you are in God’s sight and being thankful for culture.

To view Delma’s promoted to glory notice, click here

Children have a wonderful way with prayer. As their vocabulary extends and they learn new words and how to pronounce them, occasionally some fun things can happen. They’re also delightfully ignorant of some traditions or norms of prayer, which means their prayers can be brutally honest and naively charming.   An example is the little girl who was asked to say grace before a meal when visitors were attending. She said to her mother, “But I don’t know how!”, and the mother replied, “Just say what Daddy says before a meal.” So, she did: “Oh, God, what are we going to have to chew on now? Just smile at your mother and eat whatever comes out of that kitchen.”   I was helping at kids’ church at a corps I soldiered at once, and a child was asked to pray at the end of the activity. He put his hands together, bowed his head, closed his eyes and launched into it: “Dear God. We had fun today. I hope you did too. I’ll come back next week if you give me a puppy. Amen.” I don’t think he got the puppy, but he returned the following week anyway.   The internet contains many examples of lovely prayers by children. Here’s a few:   “Dear God. Are you a ninja? Is that why we never see you?”   “Dear Jesus. If you look in church on Sunday, I’ll be wearing my new shoes.”   “Hey, God. Did you mean giraffes to look like that or did you stretch them too much?”   “Dear God. Thank you for my new baby brother but what I prayed for was a bike.”   “Dear God. I don’t think anyone could be a better God. Keep up the good work.”   I recall reading a ‘Peanuts’ cartoon with Linus telling Charlie Brown he’d had a major theological revelation. He said, “If you pray with your hands together pointing down, you get the opposite of what you pray for.” I’m not so sure about that.   Some years ago, I was attending a YP anniversary (that’s Young Peoples, for those of you new here) and a little boy was asked to pray before the corps officer provided the Bible message. Apparently, he had a prayer written down on a piece of paper and he simply had to pull it out of his pocket and read it.   Confronted by a hall of faces looking at him, the boy froze like a rabbit in the headlights and then – without putting his hand anywhere near his pocket – just commenced praying: “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful.”   A very worthy prayer for any congregation to hear before a sermon!   –      Major Mal Davies is Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division.