BY SIMONE WORTHING Major Brett Gallagher, Chief Commissioner of The Salvation Army Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS), who will commemorate Anzac Day (Thursday 25 April) in Brisbane this year, thinks that “the remembrance of the spirit of ANZAC, mateship and helping those who need support is in good hands.” Speaking after the Brisbane City Community ANZAC ceremony and concert at Brisbane City Temple last Sunday 21 April, in which he participated, Brett shared that the “great afternoon of commemoration” was encouraging. “The respectful way that the fallen were remembered was married with the soul lifting tunes of How Great Thou Art, the combined performers’ rendition of Waltzing Matilda lifted the spirits, and the band playing Emblem of the Army sent everyone home with a spring in their step. “It was difficult to think that a decade or so ago, people were worried that the remembrance of ANZAC would just fade as soldiers who had served in WWI and WWII passed away,” he explained. “As we reflected on the current situation and the partnerships between The Salvation Army Homelessness Services, RSL Queensland, and RSDS, a young boy from the Voices of Biralee [children’s ensemble] was moved so much that at the end of the concert, he came forward with a donation to help veterans in need. The remembrance of the spirit of ANZAC, mateship and helping those who need support is in good hands.” Brett will also attend and participate in two Anzac Day ceremonies at Brisbane’s Shrine of Remembrance – one with school students, and the Anzac Day dawn service where he will be part of a group laying wreaths. “It’s a very special gathering,” he said. “It’s a beautiful place the city has developed to help people remember the fallen and pay their respects.” Brett will also march in the Brisbane Anzac Day March after the dawn service. “Around the nation, all of my RSDS team will also participate in the units they support in their Anzac Day dawn services. Many will head off to local marches after the service.” There are currently 14 RSDS representatives at six Army bases around Australia; two representatives at Royal Military College, Duntroon; and one in Melbourne who oversees veterans’ ministries. This unique team supports Australian Army personnel and their families – on the bases, on exercises at various locations and occasionally overseas. This year is an important one for the RSDS as it marks 125 years of service. The history of the ‘Sallyman’ and ‘Sallyma’am’ (as they are affectionally called) in Australia dates back to the Second Boer War in 1899. William Booth, Co-founder of The Salvation Army, sent Adjutant Mary Murray to offer the troops a place of respite and someone to talk to. Mary did just that, setting up a tent that soldiers from both sides of the fighting could access, providing a hot cuppa, biscuits and a listening ear. “The first Sallyman was actually a Sallyma’am,” said Brett. “This outreach has continued through every conflict that has involved the Australian Army, except Iraq and Afghanistan. And this is what we continue to do today, 125 years later. “A celebration of this anniversary will take place in Canberra 4-8 November this year.” Upcoming opportunities The RSDS will also be involved in two other milestones this year and next. “We hope to recommence our presence at Puckapunyal, an Australian Army training facility and base 10km west of Seymour in central Victoria,” shared Brett. “We had to leave there around 10-12 years ago due to budget contraints, but we are working on getting back there next year and supporting Australia’s largest training base. “We also have the report from The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide being released later this year. Part of what we see as The Salvation Army is a role through the RSDS where we can help those who are struggling due to their service. That’s our heart as a team and as The Salvation Army – to help people find wholeness.” Brisbane Anzac Community Concert To view the concert held at Brisbane City Temple, click on the video below. .

In the Kropivnitsky Corps in Ukraine, the children have been drawing some of their prayer requests. These requests include: an end to war, peace, The Salvation Army, family, friends, community, those who have lost loved ones, the future, and praise to God for love, joy and hope. Check out the grid below to see the drawings from these precious children. Please continue to pray for Ukraine.

From Hobart to Cairns, Adelaide to Darwin and Sydney to Perth, Salvation Army bands, soldiers, volunteers and a range of supporters commemorated Anzac Day around the nation. Officers and chaplains led prayers, bands played, and adults and children marched. Some corps hosted breakfasts, others joined local events and participated in community activities. It was a day of remembering, reflecting and respect. And deep gratitude. Lest We Forget. To view photos from around the country, check out the grid below.

Each week throughout this year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (1-7 April), we are praying for the Bangladesh Territory. We thank God for: ·       The appointment of national leaders as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries. ·       The spiritual leadership of the Territorial Commander. Please pray for: ·       Our leadership. ·       The Holiness Institute program which will be held 21-23 April 2024. ·       The spiritual growth of officers. ·       The political situation in Bangladesh. To find out more about the Bangladesh Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here.

Each week throughout this year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week we are praying for the Brazil Territory. Please pray for: ·       The territory's leadership ·       A spiritual revival in the territory – people committed and engaged in the mission ·       The implementation of the strategic plan of the territory and the achievement of our established goals ·       The awakening of vocations ·       The numerical growth of our youth and the spiritual growth of our children, adolescents and young people ·       The opening of seven new works spread throughout the territory in the spreading of the gospel of Christ ·       Financial provision to support the work of The Salvation Army. For more information about the Brazil Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here.

Each week throughout this year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week we are praying for the Nigeria Territory. We praise and thank God for: ·       Saving one of our expatriate officers from a road accident. ·       Journey mercies granted to the territorial leaders in their familiarisation tour and installation of Abia divisional leaders and Osun sectional leaders. ·       Journey mercies granted to all the youth officers travelling to the Abia Division for their annual workshop. Please pray: ·       For wisdom and courage for our territorial leaders. ·       For God’s intervention so that the growth of the territory will not be hindered. ·       That the Territorial Men’s Congress this year shall be a huge success. ·       For the territory to be able to implement the fullness of the strategic plan from 2021-2025. ·       For financial open doors to the territory and a successful 2024 Self Denial Appeal. ·       For Nigeria as a nation, may God restore the economy and security of our nation. ·       That God may give Nigeria godly politicians who will have feelings for the poor masses. For more information about the Nigeria Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here.

The café at the front of our church, on an inner-city street, attracts a wide range of customers. Many of them are service users – we share the facility with Doorways and a housing program – who have come to meet a caseworker or seek support or assistance. Some are church members, some are homeless, some attend playgroup, and some are simply residents of nearby housing. One of the more amusing of them is Harry* and we see him several mornings each week. Harry is generally polite and cheery but also suffers from substance-abuse psychosis and his mind shoots from topic to topic like a squirrel who’s accidentally eaten coffee beans. I often enjoy speaking the language known as ‘stream of consciousness’, so here’s a typical conversation we’d share: Mal: Good morning, Harry. How are you today? Harry: I am so good that I am close to being unbelievable. In fact, I’m amazing. M: Well, that’s nice to hear, Harry. Always good to have amazing people at the café. H: All of these people are amazing … except, perhaps, that one. She looks like a Chinese spy. M: Well even that would be amazing, Harry, because she’s Italian. Perhaps she was adopted, who knows? H: I know. Because I know a good spy when I see one. M: But surely, Harry, if you know they’re a spy, that means they’re a bad one. H: Hmm, you might be right. But how would you know that? Maybe you’re a spy. M: But you don’t know, do you, Harry? You’re not sure. So I must be a good one. Or at least better than the Italian Chinese one over there. H: Speaking of butter. Do you prefer butter or margarine? M: I like butter better, Harry. H: Ooh, wrong answer. Margarine is better. M: Why is that, Harry? H: Because it sounds like my mum’s name, Margery. M: What if my mum’s name was Betty? Would that automatically mean I should like butter? H: Correctamondo. Do you know who used to say that? M: Yes, it was Fonzie; Arthur Fonzarelli. H: I heard he was an Italian spy. M: You might be right because I heard he was Chinese. H: I suspect he was wearing a disguise. M: Hmm, reminds me of an old Herb Alpert song, ‘Disguise in love with you’. H: Don’t know it; must be before my time. M: No, it was written in 4/4, that’s common time. So you must know it. It’s common. H: Did you just call me common? M: Never, Harry. You’re amazing. H: Yes, I’d heard that. M: Yes, I just said it. H: Oh, well that must be where I’d heard it. Harry drops by most days, and we’ll regularly have conversations like this. I suspect he talks like this to many people, and they just look at him like he’s unusual or odd. He is, of course, but I don’t look at him like that. I see him and I speak to him like the friendly fellow he is. The world’s full of odd people like this. I’m one of them. Let’s be nice to them. That’s all some people need. Just be nice. *Not his real name. His real name is Gary. Possibly. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

BY MAJOR MAL DAVIES Media figure and Salvation Army volunteer Nathan Templeton was farewelled yesterday (19 April) in a moving tribute at the Geelong Football Club attended by hundreds of people from the club and the local community. A Seven Network sports reporter for more than a decade, Templeton was also known to fans of Sunrise and was the ground announcer on game day at GMHBA Stadium for the Cats. He passed away suddenly on 9 April, experiencing a medical episode while walking his dog near the Barwon River. He was married with two children. Templeton had also volunteered regularly on the Geelong Outreach Van, run by the South Barwon Corps, and he was a well-known and popular figure amongst the homeless community of Geelong. He was known for his engaging conversation with disadvantaged community members and his kindness and empathy. His involvement with The Salvation Army was referenced at the tribute ceremony, and guests were asked not to provide flowers but to make a donation to the outreach van program. "Nathan was someone who could easily talk to and engage with anyone he would meet on the Geelong Salvo Outreach Van," said the Geelong Salvo Outreach Family. "If someone was living in their car, a tent or just doing life tough on the streets of Geelong, he had the incredible ability to show warmth. Nathan would speak wonderful words of kindness, encouragement, in a sensitive non-judgmental way, one of Nathan's true gifts. "Our deepest condolences go out to his family and all his close friends at this very difficult time. Rest in peace, Nathan."

Bill Li, a chaplain at Macquarie Lodge Aged Care Centre and Retirement Village (NSW), shares his profound journey of transformation from atheism to Christianity. With over a decade in service in aged care ministry, Bill expresses a deep fulfilment in providing emotional, pastoral, and spiritual support to residents. Bill, can you tell us a little bit about who you are? Coming to Australia with a student visa as an atheist in 2002 and later becoming a follower of Jesus as a soldier of Campsie Corps in 2010, I have experienced a dramatic and amazing change. God has done an incredible job in my personal life. I first completed a Diploma of Christianity Chaplaincy at Eva Burrows College and then commenced ministering at Pacific Lodge Aged Care Centre in 2011 as a chaplain, and later moved to Macquarie Lodge Aged Care Centre in 2013, where I will have worked for 11 years. During these years and my journey of ministry, I have received so many blessings and felt that God has been guiding and walking with me everywhere, all the time. What do you enjoy most about your role with The Salvation Army Aged Care? You may be interested in why I have been working in one role for such a long time. What I can tell is that I firmly believe that God has his own timing and has been using me as a faithful follower and diligent servant. I have been enjoying providing emotional, pastoral, and spiritual support to our beloved residents, and I have a feeling of continuing to minister to the elderly to the last day of my retirement. What aspect of working in the aged care industry is most rewarding to you? One of the things I like most about my role is sharing stories with residents. People in their older age could tell you many of their experiences, which are full of adventure, success, and happiness and, at times, struggles and failures. However, whatever happened, all is in God’s hands because he is the creator with love and mercy, and all is in his control. One of the interesting things I found is that the more stories I heard, the more I trust God and the more I believe God is almighty. The residents’ stories are evidence of God’s glory, endurance and forgiveness. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like listening to classical music in my spare time. A musical work I like is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, the Fate Symphony. I really cannot tell how many times I have listened to it with prayers. It always comes with encouragement and inspirations whenever facing challenges and difficulties. What does leadership mean to you? As to my understanding of leadership, I think it is not only the art of guiding a team or organisation through effective decision-making, motivating members and achieving collective goals with integrity, but also the actions of demonstrating a leader’s strong moral principles and ethics, as well as excellent organisational abilities. But above these, the most important is illustrating faith in God. God is our leader all the time and we have just follow his guidance and instruction. What advice would you give other employees of The Salvation Army Aged Care working in similar roles? Leave everything to God in prayer and follow the ways God directs you. Then you will be rewarded by his love and blessings.

BY BARRY GITTINS Threats and fisticuffs. Sticks and stones. Clods of earth and hunks of turf. Flying saucepans. Spittle and invective. ‘Flour, mud, stones and cabbage stalks.’ If there was something to be flung at the early-day Salvationists, first known as members of the Christian Mission, then their detractors would let it rip. In one famed assault in the United Kingdom, known as the Battle of Sangers Circus, the circus ‘carnees’ set up shop right next door to Booth’s singing evangelists. The circus folk then deployed an arsenal against William Booth’s singing evangelists that included a brass band, a bass drum, side drum and cymbals, as well as a large elephant and two dromedaries that were ‘led up and down among the people’. “The roughs shouted, women and children shrieked, and every moment we expected some dreadful accident,” recorded a 20th-century William Booth biographer, St John Ervine. “The persecution lasted just an hour and a half, but God was with us.”The battle preceded many similar ad-hoc assaults against Salvationists in the UK and across the world, as well as the ‘skeleton armies’ (often recruited and funded by publicans) that were formed to take down The Salvation Army. Salvationists, on the whole, responded with the pacifist, non-violent resistance to oppression that was to later characterise the strategy and success of Mohandas Gandhi, the ‘Mahatma’ who helped India gain their independence from British rule. Maintain your heading You might think it was a magazine for martial artists, written to entertain boxers and practitioners of eastern disciplines, but The Warrior was one of many long-faded Salvation Army magazines for members and the general readership. Among its offerings were devotional and instructional articles, as well as ‘slice of life’ anecdotes, which were used for spiritual purposes. In April 1937, a sailor and Salvationist with the nom de plume ‘Leadsman’ wrote of taking his watch (or a ‘trick’) in the wheelhouse around midnight – and witnessing a navigational near miss, courtesy of a distracted quartermaster. Arguing the merits, intentions and honour of a lively young woman (described as ‘a dame’ from the Cairo Bar in Malta), the quartermaster was distracted, and the wheel of the vessel was neglected. “The ship’s head swung slowly to port,” the article notes, and the officer of the watch screamed down the voice-pipe, “Where the _______ is your steering? Keep to your course, quartermaster!” Our eyewitness to this maritime muck-up, the Salvo sailor Leadsman, spiritualised the event like so; by communing closely with God, he reasoned, “our course is set before us, which, if we steadfastly follow, will lead us to his wonderful presence. We certainly cannot afford to let worldly affairs distract us, or we will run off course.”Leadsman knew a thing or two about distraction, mind you, confessing that, “I have tasted of much of the pleasures of the world, as sailors can. Having done so, almost by accident, [God’s] enlightenment as to His power came in such a way that I can never be unenlightened.“Talking directly, as most sailors do, I say there is definitely no better life; if we serve the Lord our God in faith, without fear,  and [stand boldly] as champion of His glorious name. But if I fail, I must answer not only to God but to my messmates – and what that means I leave you to imagine. “It is my watch again,” Leadsman then signed off, “and I must go … trusting God all the time that I [will] keep to my course!”

BY LERISSE SMITH Wyndham City Corps’ Hunger Buster bus has received a boost in its food relief service to the local community thanks to a bunch of tradies. More than 300 tradies from Lendlease recently raised $9000 for the Melbourne corps’ Red Shield Appeal campaign. The funds will go towards the operation of the big red bus plus other service delivery projects to help support the local community each week. Corps Officers Majors Catherine and Phill Abram said receiving such a generous donation was a shock. “I am absolutely gobsmacked,” said Phill. “It’s not every day we receive such a large donation. It will make a significant contribution to serving the local community. We are very grateful.” Lendlease's involvement with Wyndham started about 18 months ago when they saw the Hunger Buster bus at the station. Last year, they conducted an Easter raffle for the corps, raising some funds, and also provided food hampers and toys for Christmas. Lendlease tradespeople then visited the Wyndham Corps and Doorways Program for a day and voluntarily helped clean the Wyndham Doorways and corps site. Lendlease engineers, office staff, and tradespeople assisted Wyndham with various tasks, including gardening, building steps, building a screen around the shower trailer, fixing ceiling tiles in the church building, washing windows, painting and driveway maintenance work. It is part of the company’s ethos that staff undertake a community workday and visit different community groups. Later that day, Phill brought the Lendlease coordinators to the Doorways office. They asked how best they could support the Wyndham community members. After some discussions, Wyndham’s Doorways Coordinator Grace Nnajieze was told their tradespeople would donate to The Salvation Army Wyndham. In the first week of April this year, Phill informed Grace that Lendlease tradies had raised more than $9000. The Lendlease coordinators recently invited Grace, Phill and Wyndham City Ministry Assistant Tim Kite to visit the Lendlease office so they could present the donation to them. Rosita Faatau and Tara Abram from Wyndham City were also in attendance. Lendlease Site Foreman Dai Davis presented Phill with the donation.

Join us in celebrating the presence, power and promise of children and young people within The Salvation Army! Every year The Salvation Army celebrates the International Day of Children and Young People on the last Sunday of April. In 2024, this is Sunday 28 April. The International Salvation Army Children and Youth team believe that the day is not just an opportunity to pray for children and young people, but also “to create space for them to participate in every aspect of our mission. It is about giving them a voice and a stage.” An online event celebrating the International Day of Children and Young People will take place on 27 April 2024 at 1pm UK time. Hosted by young people in the Philippines, this event will feature the introduction of the theme song and a message from General Lyndon Buckingham about the theme of ‘Grow’. “Be inspired by the voices of young people as they share their experiences and insights on the importance of growth of children and young people around the world,” the team shared. “Let’s come together to celebrate the potential and promise of the next generation, and the power of young people to create positive change in the world. Creative competition “We will also launch our international creative competition. Get ready to sing, dance, and draw your way to victory. Whether you are alone or in a group, whether you sing, dance, draw or make an animated film; this is your chance to shine! “We believe that although children are developing, they are also whole and complete human beings. God calls each individual human being into a real relationship and to a real vocation, not a potential vocation in the future. “This means we see children and young people as full, active members of the Body of Christ, equally important as anyone else. “This year we will focus on the miracle of growth. Did you ever see a flower grow? Or a baby? Or maybe a dog or cat? It is just amazing to see growth! “The Bible talks a lot about growth. The materials for this year feature Bible stories which show us what we need to grow spiritually and how God will build his Kingdom. It's amazing to see how God's Spirit enables all of us to grow our love for God and for others so we can shine as bright lights in this world. Challenges “We hope the Grow theme brings you joy, inspires you, makes you think and encourages you to have conversations with your friends and family. “We challenge every child and young person to step up and speak up. Use the talents and gifts God gave you to inspire and serve others. Use your imagination and creativity; you have something to share with the world! “We challenge every adult to create space for children and young people to lead and inspire others. Let’s encourage and empower the younger generations to grow and reach their full potential!” Resources available This year the materials have been created by the Korea Territory. A team of talented and passionate leaders under the supervision of captains Sung-Eun Jo and Yun-Taeg Kim have created materials for all ages: ·       a fantastic theme song with a real K-pop sound ·       a Bible-reading rap ·       a meeting plan and sermon outline ·       intergenerational devotions ·       activities, icebreakers and questions for different age groups. There are also instructional videos to help you make the most of all the materials. Download all the materials as PDFs and Word files that can be edited – in a range of languages. Graphics are included to promote the International Day of Children and Young People on your social channels. For more information, click here. Follow The Salvation Army International Youth and Children for more updates. ·       Join the event on YouTube ·       Join the event on Facebook Check out the video all about this event!