Search Results

Until a few years ago, Sharon’s family was doing fine. Regular hard-working Aussies, Sharon was a barista and her husband, Mike, a builder. Their two teenage boys, Flynn and Jordan, loved basketball and video games. Although they were not wealthy, the family was getting by. Most importantly, they were happy. But along with the cost-of-living crisis that was hitting everyone, Sharon and Mike were hit by a personal crisis of their own. Mike, who had always had heart issues, became seriously ill, to the point where he could no longer work. With the family’s finances already in decline, the final straw came when Mike suffered a stroke that nearly killed him. In addition to four weeks in an intensive care unit (ICU), Mike was put on a ventilator for another three weeks. By the time he came home, he had only 23 per cent heart function. Breaking point The emotional and financial strain on the family reached breaking point as Sharon had to give up work after the accident to become a full-time carer for Mike. As a result, the family that was not long ago happy and getting by found themselves drowning in bills and costs due to the combined loss of two salaries. Following Mike’s hospitalisation, Sharon started making the daily 150km round trip to visit Mike while he fought for his life in ICU. “I’d used everything we had to keep us afloat,” she says. “We had no money in reserve. I couldn’t pay for fuel to visit Mike in hospital, and pay the rent too. I fell behind on my rent. I’d come home from the hospital and just break down in tears. I didn’t know what to do. I felt so low, and so alone.” One day, just as she hit rock bottom, Sharon remembered something that would turn the family’s lives around – a breakfast service offered every morning by a nearby Salvos cafe. She called in for the free breakfast, a coffee and a chat. What she received in return brought her to tears. “They [the Salvos] opened their arms and their hearts, saying, ‘Come with me. We will help you.’ I only wish I’d gone sooner,” says Sharon, “so I didn’t have to struggle for so long.” Sharon and her family were no longer alone. A way towards hope With the support of the Salvos, the family received emergency financial assistance to get back on top of their rent, cover outstanding bills and put food on the table. And that was just the beginning. Apart from immediate assistance, Sharon was able to gain long-term financial security with the steady, guiding hand and ongoing support of a caring Salvos caseworker, as well as financial coaching and budgeting advice. Sharon now refers to the Salvos as her friends, who she knows will walk alongside her and her family for as long as they need in their journey towards healing and a happy and full life.

BY MAJOR MAL DAVIES No, your calendar’s not wrong and, no, you’ve not been in a six-month coma – this is indeed a Christmas article in July. Are we early, are we late? Maybe both. At Christmas the world changes and, generally, for the better. Sure, you get some Scrooges who go the whole ‘bah, humbug’ on you and, yes, you have the annual problem of whether or not you invite Uncle Terry (who always sneezes on the trifle). However, these are minor and surmountable issues, far outweighed by the good stuff. I’m not talking about the food and presents, I’m talking about the whole ‘tidings of comfort and joy’ thing that happens. People seem more joyful at Christmas. We sing, whistle and hum more. We’re more optimistic, more hopeful, more buoyant, more jovial. In short, we’re happier with ourselves and with the world. Even when we get to the toy shop and the shelves are empty or we burn the roast turkey on Christmas Day, we still manage to find a solution and a smile, and – if nothing else – it gives us a story to tell next Christmas. We hear or sing along with songs that talk about joy, love, peace, goodwill, happiness, smiling faces and good news. Even the media outlets find some cheery stories: a community holding its first street party; a charity overwhelmed with generous donations of toys; a couple holding their first child after its birth on Christmas Day; a city park aglow with lights and decorations and tinsel. Really, can you think of another time like Christmas when the world seems better and brighter? It’s quite unique. Sadly. I mean, why can’t we hang on to that feeling a bit longer? In fact, why can’t we maintain it all year, like … even in July? While I consider myself an introvert, I enjoy Christmas crowds. I’ll often go into town on 23 or 24 December even if I don’t have to buy any presents. I like the hustle and bustle of the crowd; the music in the air; the various Santas; the smells of food, and the decorations. Most of all, I like that people just seem happier. They smile more. And I can’t help but say to myself: why aren’t people like this more often? Why do we wait til December to be happy? So what if we celebrated Jesus every day, what would the world look like then? At the core of Christmas is not a large, elderly, man with a white beard and red suit, it’s the anniversary celebration of the birth of a baby more than 2,000 years ago. A baby who grew to be a man who impacted world history and how humans live more than any person who’s ever lived. His name is Jesus and he taught about love and grace and forgiveness and truth and a whole range of other things. And he taught and lived them so emphatically that billions of people have and still do try to emulate him. Do all Christians get it right? No, we’re not Jesus. But he gives us someone to aspire to; a role model for the ages. At Christmas we celebrate his birth and the world is a happier place. So what if we celebrated Jesus every day, what would the world look like then? What if every day we smiled more and were happier? What if every day we tried to show each other grace and forgiveness? What if every day we championed truth? What if every day we showed love more? Christmas doesn’t have to be a once-a-year thing, it can be an every-day thing. Even today, in July. Major Mal Davies is a Salvation Army officer (pastor) in South Australia.

By KIRRALEE NICOLLE Salvation Army officers are set to share their expertise at a conference on disability and mental illness in the church. The event will also feature speakers from the Uniting Church of Australia, Baptist church, Church of Christ and other community-based organisations. Box Hill Corps will host ‘Welcoming and Inclusive: Actions for Churches in response to people with disabilities and health issues’ on Saturday 29 July. It will explore theological perspectives on disability and mental illness, as well as workshops on neurodivergence, invisible disability, navigating government support and issues of mental illness in the justice system. The Salvation Army’s National Disability Inclusion Lead, Joseph Pinkard, said the conference would help raise awareness about barriers to inclusion in churches and explore practical ways to reduce and remove barriers so that everyone could experience welcome and belonging in the Church. “It’s important to explore because there are two key passages in the Bible that make it important,” Joseph said. “One is Luke chapter 14, which talks about the great banquet and about Jesus welcoming in people with disabilities to that banquet. And then in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, where we read about the body of Christ and how all parts of the body have a role to play. Even the parts that seem weaker are indispensable. And so, as a church, we have a calling from Jesus and from Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth to be inclusive.” Joseph said while most churches would say they welcome everyone, research suggested that people with disabilities still encountered numerous barriers and challenges in accessing church. “Barriers can be obvious,” he said. “Like a lack of physical access, e.g., only having steps into a church building, but it can also be less obvious things like attitudinal barriers, so having low expectations of someone living with a disability participating or serving in ministry. “There’s often not an intentional attempt to exclude, but just a lack of awareness that these barriers exist and are preventing people with disabilities from full participation in our corps.” Joseph said the Social Justice Stocktake conducted by The Salvation Army in 2021 showed the issue Australians were most concerned about and wanted addressed was mental health. “Particularly where we have shared sites where we might have different mission expressions operating out of the same location, there's often increased interactions with people with disabilities and people with mental health challenges,” he said. “So, there’s an opportunity for us as an entire movement, not just our corps, but also our other mission expressions and mission enterprise to think about how we more consistently include people with disabilities across everything that we do.” Major Christine Pickens of Eva Burrows College will share on a panel at the conference exploring the role of Christian community in welcoming and inclusion, while Major Dr Catherine Spiller will reflect on findings from her worship research initiative at Mooroolbark Corps (Vic.). To find out more about the event or book tickets, visit https://events.humanitix.com/welcoming-and-inclusive.

As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, The Salvation Army in Ukraine runs a range of programs to help traumatised children maintain their mental health. The Dnipro Corps offers drawing classes, a type of art therapy, which are popular with children and teenagers. “Drawing is one way to distract a child from the source of stress, to shift the attention to the process itself,” explains Natalia Rak, corps leader. “Drawing also produces stress resistance in children and increases their attention span, endurance and concentration.” Natalia and the team shared that young people have been able to express themselves through their creativity. “Through the colours of the paints and what they are drawing, they find their own internal resources to help them deal with the problems that bother them inside.” The classes are also a good opportunity for the children and youth to socialise and make friends – another important factor in trauma recovery.

By CLIFF WORTHING Building a healthy Brisbane community is the main goal for Jaiden Ivers, Brisbane City Temple Community Engagement Worker. “It’s not a cliché to say we are better together,” Jaiden says. “We really do need each other, whether at the individual level or collaboration between services and organisations.” In the 18 months Jaiden has been in the role, he has gone out of his way to connect with people. “Everyone has a unique story and deserves to be seen and heard,” Jaiden says. “It is more than the traditional Aussie greeting of ‘How ya going?’ – but really listening, hearing them out and showing [people] they are loved and valued.” Jaiden is heavily involved in helping out at the Salvos Doorways (emergency relief) program, responding to the needs of customers with food, grocery vouchers, and supporting the volunteers who engage with those in need. He is a constant friendly face and listening ear at the weekly Open House community space and meal and as part of the Mainly Music team. An additional task for Jaiden is going to Moonyah, the Salvos’ Brisbane Recovery Services, where he leads groups exploring spirituality for those in the recovery program. Jaiden says a benefit of that activity is building relationships with participants there so that he is a friendly face when they leave to transition back into the Brisbane community. Jaiden’s role involves building connections with other services and organisations that share a common goal of supporting Brisbane’s vulnerable populations. For example, Central Queensland University is located just across the road from Brisbane City Temple. Jaiden reached out to them to discuss how they could collaborate. He was invited to ‘pop-up’ lunches to talk with students and staff about the Salvos’ work. Last year, university staff volunteered to collect donations for the Red Shield Appeal. “I’m just here to try to bridge the gap for individuals and organisations,” Jaiden says. “I get to share the love of Jesus and help those who need it.”

If you haven’t quite got enough Salvation Army to enjoy, now you can access it 24/7, wherever you are. The United Kingdom and Ireland Territory have launched an app for their Salvationist Radio station, so you can now easily access music, interviews, podcasts and more on your phone or iPad or smart device wherever you are. At the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, two English Salvationists – Stuart Hall and Austin Burn – launched Fortress Radio. The web-based station played predominantly brass and songster music but also broadcast a Sunday meeting and prayer meeting. They were amateurs who had never worked in radio, but they saw a need during the COVID lockdown. In late 2021, Stuart and Austin offered the station to the territory as they were, they confessed, starting to run out of energy and time for it. Territorial leadership agreed to take it on but also said they would like a rebrand and redirection of the station to offer more programming variety and more modern and diverse content. Salvationist Sam Davidson was employed as the Audio Content Editor to focus on this ‘new’ station, and in February 2022, Fortress Radio officially became Salvationist Radio. Sam was already working for The Salvation Army’s ‘World of Sound’ recording studio as a sound engineer and project manager and has a great heart for Army mission. Now, the station has launched its own app (just search for Salvationist Radio in your app store), which includes a weekly schedule, so you can see what shows are coming up. This means you can quickly access Army music and programs, even on your phone. You can learn more about the station at www.salvationist.org.uk/radio and you can download the app now.

By JENNIFER KIRKALDY In the 1999 referendum, the question was put on whether Australia’s Constitution should include a preamble that would recognise the first people of Australia. The very first line of the ‘No’ case was ‘If you don’t know – vote no!’ We’ve seen some variation on that line in the no cases of a lot of votes and we’re beginning to see it now with the Voice. There’s a certain appeal to the ‘if you don’t know, vote no’ argument (and not just because it rhymes). If you don’t think too hard about it, it seems reasonable – don’t take a chance if you don’t absolutely have to. Maintain the status quo until you are confident things need to change. That’s good, solid, ‘little c’ conservative advice. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The problem is … it is broke. How our society treats Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures is fundamentally (but not irrevocably) broken. We know that structural and historic injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples currently mean shorter life expectancy, poorer health and educational outcomes and disproportionately higher incarceration rates. At The Salvation Army, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are over-represented in almost every one of our services – around 20 per cent of our homelessness and emergency relief work is done with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and around 35 per cent of our family and domestic violence services. We know action needs to be taken. At the heart of previous policy failures has been action that was pursued without proper engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people actually affected. We know the Voice is an opportunity before us right now to make sure we do better in the future. Arguments that the Voice is not the right mechanism are many and varied, but in general, they boil down to a fear that the model might not work. The Voice might not have the right arrangements to be truly representative, it might not have the governance structures to avoid corruption, and it might, in myriad different ways, not be perfect. That fear is valid. It just isn’t a good enough reason to miss this opportunity. When the Commonwealth of Australia was created, we did not have the right arrangements for our parliament to be truly representative. I am not talking about the injustice of segments of our society not having the right to vote. I am talking about how we didn’t have proportionate representation or postal voting (and even a secret ballot was in question at Federation). We didn’t reject the whole system. Over time, we improved the system and now we have one of the most robust democracies in the world. Corruption is an absolute scourge on trust in public institutions and it is by no means unheard of in Australia. Concerns around corruption in our own Federal Parliament have led to calls for a Federal ICAC. They haven’t led to calls to abandon the entire Westminster system of government. Corruption or mismanagement is serious, and it needs to be met with a proportionate response – not panic. The reality is that whatever detail or model is chosen, the Voice is not going to be perfect. It is going to disappoint a lot of people. I say this not to dishearten anyone, but because literally, no institution (The Salvation Army included) is perfect. Having a go, learning from mistakes, and improving over time is pretty much how Australia operates – it will be the same with the Voice. Like every other major reform in Australia’s history, there are going to be teething problems. Those problems are nothing in the face of the very real issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples right now. They are not even much compared to the policy challenges facing our governments. They certainly are not too much for us to work through sensibly. We know the current system is not working. We know something needs to be done. We know a Voice represents a real chance to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through better policymaking. We know listening to the experience and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves will lead to better outcomes. We know too much for ‘if you don’t know, vote no’ to really fly. So, let’s call it what it is … ‘vote no to accept the status quo’. And we know the status quo is unacceptable. Jennifer Kirkaldy is the National General Manager of Policy and Advocacy at The Salvation Army Australia.

Work is progressing on the new Salvation Army mission centre being built in Warrnambool (Vic.). The main building will include a multipurpose room and youth hall, a parents’ room, play area, a kitchen, servery and storage rooms, and offices. “We are on track to take possession in October and then bring across all that we need from our current site,” said Corps Officer Major Brett Allchin. “We are excited about the possibilities this new building will open up for those who visit and work there.” The centre is being built on the corner of Mortlake Road and Breton Street. Brett said The Salvation Army is also hopeful to receive approval for funding of 24 new houses at the rear of the site. The development, being called the Mortlake Ministry Hub, includes a mix of two and three-bedroom single and double-storey units. It will also feature a communal garden with an orchard, barbeque area and raised vegetable planters that can be accessed by residents. *Some information sourced from an article in The Warrnambool Standard

By CLIFF WORTHING It’s always encouraging when your idea is a success, especially if you thought it might not work. “I didn’t think my men’s ministry idea would take off as well as it did,” said Lieutenant Keven Williams, Eastern Beaches Corps Officer and NSW/ACT Men’s Ministry Coordinator. “However, as soon as I suggested we catch up for pizza and a chat, the group came together and has kept on growing.” Keven’s idea to create a safe place for men to talk about their struggles was prompted by his own journey of challenging circumstances. “I understand the importance of speaking about the tough side of life, and there just aren’t enough safe spaces for men,” Keven said. “Men often don’t like talking about serious challenges, but I want to change the stigma.” The group meets every two weeks. As well as the food, each session has a check-in time when the men can give and receive encouragement, share their thoughts and develop stronger relationships. Keven explained that sometimes they might play board games, listen to music, watch the State of Origin [rugby league] matches and joke around. Keven introduces some talking points for everyone to participate in if they wish, and the session concludes with a guided prayer and the men praying for each other. Keven shared that some of the men are recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, dealing with separation or feeling like a failure because, for the first time in their lives, they can’t provide for their families with the rise in the cost of living. “I really enjoy sitting back and watching the group come alive, even through the tough conversations,” Keven said. “Some of the guys are starting to talk to me regularly outside the group, at cafés or strolling along for a walk. The men of the group are starting to tell others about it.” Several men have started attending the corps’ Positive Lifestyle Program. The men’s group is open to anybody, with a mixture of men from the corps, alcohol and other drugs services, and the local community. “The only negative response I get is the sessions aren’t long enough,” Keven said. “People are walking away transformed by the love of Jesus.” Keven is currently planning the ACT/NSW Divisional ARISE men’s conference set for 27-29 October at The Salvation Army’s Collaroy Centre in Sydney. During the conference, men will be invited to participate to share talk about life’s issues in a way that creates a new way of thinking about men’s health and great relationships.

There’s just over one more week to complete the 2023 Faith, People and Connection Survey! The information collected in the 10-minute survey will provide valuable insights about our Faith Pathways, Connecting Points to Faith Communities and how our Faith Communities have been engaging in Mission at national and divisional levels. Corps officers and ministry leaders are encouraged to participate by inviting their faith communities to complete the survey. The survey closes on 30 July. Complete the survey here >>

At Noosa/Coolum Salvos, the new Salivating Cooking program couldn't have come at a better time. As the cost of living continues to rise, the program helps participants make the most of their grocery shop, learn new culinary skills and create tasty dishes too. Tony, an accomplished chef, generously donates his time to teach and has found that he loves being part of this community as much as his students.

Three players and a coach from The Salvation Army Street Football team in Larvik, Norway, recently joined the rest of The Salvation Army national team for the Homeless World Cup. The tournament took place in Sacramento, California, from 8-15 July. The Homeless World Cup is an annual, world-class, international football tournament. Every year, teams of men and women who are homeless represent their country during the week-long street football competition. This year, more than 40 teams from all corners of the world met for the event. The Salvation Army Norwegian women’s team was honoured with the Fairplay Award at the conclusion of the tournament. “This means that we got the most votes in total from the judges during the entire tournament,” shared the team leaders. “This was well deserved for nice play, many smiles and infectious good humour – both on and off the pitch. “Both the men’s and ladies team fought hard all week and played matches in temperatures up to 42 degrees. Impressive!” By taking part in the tournament, players are given the opportunity to travel, often leaving their countries for the first time. They also become part of a global community of players who have faced similar challenges. The tournament is designed to be competitive, but its special structure and emphasis on fair play mean that everyone plays until the last day. There are several levels of competition and trophies to win, providing a sense of achievement for teams of all skill levels. The Homeless World Cup was co-founded by Mel Young and Harald Schmied, who came up with the idea following a conference about homelessness in 2001. They wanted to change the lives of homeless people all over the world, and they believed football could help them do it. The first Homeless World Cup took place in Graz, Austria, in 2003 with 18 teams, and the event and network has been growing steadily ever since, occupying a pioneering role in the field of sport and development.