In any relationship, communication is critical. Good communication needs to be consistent and persistent. We need to share our thoughts, needs, anxieties and desires. We also need to listen to the other person. Prayer is communication between God and people. Prayer is crucial in our relationship with God. He longs to spend time with us and we need to spend time with him. When we have an open dialogue with God we allow him to speak truth, conviction, and instruction into our lives. To find video downloads, sermon outlines and discussion questions for this series, go to: https://my.salvos.org.au/toolkit/resource/spiritual-habits-the-good-and-the-bad/2997/

The theme for this year’s Self Denial Appeal is ‘Love in Action’. It highlights the Apostle John’s first letter to the early Christian Church where he reminds believers that Christ’s love must be more than just words or feelings. Every year, the Self Denial Appeal calls members of The Salvation Army to sacrificially give to the appeal specifically for mission in countries around the world where there is great need. Traditionally, the call has been to give one week’s salary. Such acts of generosity are love in action — the kind Jesus called us to. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions” (1 John 3:16-18, NIV). This year’s Self Denial Appeal focuses on Indonesia, the Philippines and Tonga. The appeal officially commences on Sunday 11 February. The Altar Service (Week 6) is scheduled for Sunday 17 March. For more information or to donate online, go to the Self Denial Appeal page here. The Self Denial Appeal resource toolkit, which includes videos, print and promotional resources and devotionals, click here.

BY SIMONE WORTHING Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams have been catering at three evacuation centres in Victoria in the aftermath of the heavy rain and severe storms that have lashed the state over the past week. Several communities have been inundated with flood waters and, although these are receding now in some towns such as Seymour and Yea, rivers are expected to rise in the northern regional city of Shepparton. Beginning on Monday 8 January, SAES teams served at the Bendigo, Echuca and Seymour evacuation centres. “Our teams spread out across the state to assist and support community members who were impacted by the floods,” said Carolyn Spratling, SAES response coordinator in Victoria. “The team at Bendigo provided material aid, including bedding, toiletries, baby needs, ladies’ personal needs and dry clothing as needed; in Echuca, we served meals to the evacuees from the northern town of Rochester; and in Seymour, the teams provided bedding, toiletries and catering to those who had to evacuate. “An SAES team also went to Rochester to run a community barbecue. We thank all our volunteers who have given up their time over the last 24 hours to serve impacted communities.” The teams have now completed the required catering and assistance and have been stood down. Financial assistance The flood response is already moving from the emergency to recovery phase. “Local councils are keeping records of people coming through evacuation centres, who they are housing, and who may need assistance going forward,” explained Territorial Envoy Margaret Coombridge, SAES recovery coordinator Vic/Tas. “There is always great concern for those who have been experiencing homelessness and camping close to rivers and waterways. “In Seymour and Shepparton, the SAES continues to work with the local councils to support people who might need assistance. As referrals are received, we are also encouraging community members to access Doorways assistance by contacting The Salvation Army’s phone assistance line (PAL) Victoria on 03 8873 5288. "It is during 'non-event, down times' that the SAES works hard building relationships with local council by supporting events and exercises. It is because of this work that the team is invited into communities during and following disaster events to work with others and provide support to those impacted." To see more photos, click on the slider below.

I love cricket. Like most Australian kids, I learnt how to play in the backyard and spent many hours batting and bowling with my brother and sometimes with my father or grandfather. Playing with my father was hard because he was so unselfish – he’d get a turn at batting and just deliberately hit catches to us! I find watching T20 cricket (20 overs per side, for the uninitiated) an amusing way to waste a few mindless hours at the end of a working day. And one-day matches are rarely played these days, but they also have some entertainment value. What I love is test cricket; it’s the game they play in heaven. (I recognise some of you may differ from me on that last theological point.) I recently had some time off work and spent four days on my couch watching a test match. It also gave me time to think of what some biblical characters may perform like on the cricket field. Moses would be a great swing bowler. He would bowl the ball and then stand and just spread his hands apart – like splitting the Red Sea – and the ball would swing to one side. When he got tired of bowling towards the end of a long spell, teammates would stand next to him and hold his arms up so he could continue. Samson would be a powerful, big-hitting batsman and use his bat like a club. He wouldn’t run much (he’s not really built for quick singles), but he wouldn’t need to; he’d just smash boundaries. If his bat broke in half, he’d just continue using half a bat and swinging it like, I don’t know, like the jawbone of a donkey. Judas would try and bribe the umpires. Enough said. Peter would play like it was tippity-run. Hit the ball, run. Hit the ball, run. Hit the ball, run. It wouldn’t worry if the ball went straight to a fielder, back to the bowler, or over the boundary fence. Just hit it and run. Peter only knows one way. He’s never blocked a ball in his life. Jonah would hit the ball, call for a single and then run in the opposite direction. He’s just wired to do that. If the aim is simply to run down the pitch to complete a successful run, Jonah will run the other way. Then he’ll complain about the lack of shade near the pitch when he’s batting. David would be a quick and accurate bowler, but he’d have an illegal action, and the umpire would call him for throwing. David would complain: “But my arm’s not bent; why are you no-balling me?”, and the umpire would respond: “Yes, your arm’s straight, but you’re using a SLING!” Jesus would be the wicketkeeper. Nothing gets past Jesus. Express ball. Leg-spinner. Bouncer. Way down the leg side. Yorker. Huge outswinger. Jesus would stop everything. Some bowlers would try to test him and offer a real googly, but nothing gets past Jesus. Nothing. Thomas would make a terrible umpire: “Umm, I don’t know. I think it’s out. Or in.” Noah would be a bat maker: “I prefer gopherwood; it handles wet weather well.” Paul would be a fine cricket writer: “Let me just write an article about how the match is going, or maybe a two-part article – 1 Day’s Play and 2 Day’s Play.” Job would make a miserable player: “Out? Why me? It’s always me. Sure, tell old Job he’s out. No one cares about old Job.” While this might all sound a bit fanciful, you must remember that cricket is one of the few sports mentioned in the Bible. Right at the dawn of creation, we read in Genesis 1:1: “In the big innings, God created the heaven and the earth”. See? All done while he was keeping one eye on the cricket. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

What disciplines can we put in place to help us grow closer to Jesus? This week, Salvos Online looks at some spiritual habits that can transform us as disciples of Jesus. This devotional series by Mission Resources covers: Bible reading, prayer, evangelism (sharing faith) and generosity (giving). The resources feature videos, sermons and discussion questions that explore each of these important Christian habits. Today we look at the importance of reading God’s Word, the Bible. It allows us to connect with God and helps us to understand God’s wisdom, purpose and direction for our lives. To access all resources for this series, go to: https://my.salvos.org.au/toolkit/resource/spiritual-habits-the-good-and-the-bad/2997/

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? I am currently serving at Richmond Corps in Victoria. I love building relationships with people and sharing faith together. I also love visiting people and getting to know them more deeply. I’ve recently started a walking prayer group where we also share our stories and recall God’s grace. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I enjoy bushwalking, sewing and baking. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? I like Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me because the words show God’s incomparable love for us. The song reminds me that my life is tightly connected with God, who leads me to overcome everything in life. It reminds me Jesus is my hope and that everything belongs to God including my whole life. One day he will take me back to the home he has prepared for me. 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? Peter. Because why did he – who was brave, strong and loyal to Jesus – cut off his relationship and deny him in the blink of an eye? What made him undergo such a big change? I want to pray a prayer of repentance and confession with Peter. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? Officership is a great way to share the gospel and bring good news to so many different people. You can grow further with God and follow Jesus closely. You can bring so much love, hope and joy to people. You really can be part of building God’s kingdom and building community. Interview by Major Mal Davies

BY LAUREN MARTIN Sydney Kings players Angus Glover and Makuach Maluach visited Macquarie Fields Salvos in south-west Sydney recently, to shoot hoops with students from a nearby high school. Organiser, Major Darren Kingston, says it’s the second time players from the Sydney Kings basketball team have engaged with Macquarie Fields Salvos in community work, since sponsoring the building of a basketball ring within the mission’s carpark. “It was great for the Sydney Kings to come out and help build community in the local area,” he said. “They did a skills session with students from James Meehan High School, and played one-on-one with them.” This year, Macquarie Fields Mission is investing more in local young people, with the employment of a part-time youth-worker who will start in February.

BY MARTIN DONEGAN There was a canine cacophony, not to mention a feline furore when Granton Salvation Army in Edinburgh, Scotland, hosted its first ‘pet blessing’ ceremony leading up to Christmas. The ceremony followed on from The Salvation Army’s Paws Pantry pet foodbank, which takes place every fortnight at the Granton Corps, serving a large community in the north of the city.   Owners can also relax, pets permitting, in the community cafe - a warm and friendly space where people can meet for a chat, plus free tea, coffee and cake before taking advantage of the foodbank and the optional pet blessing afterwards. “The Paws Pantry pet foodbank has been a huge success since it was launched in 2021,” said Lorraine Duncan, community program manager who runs the Granton Centre. “When times are tough it ensures people are not forced to give up their pets as costs increase. For many locals who attend, their animal is a friend, companion or much-loved family pet – the thought of giving that up is stressful and heartbreaking. If we can prevent that happening, then we have succeeded. “Our wellness cafe and digital hub also provide a comprehensive range of support including digital skills, employability, mental health support, financial inclusion, and diet and nutrition.   “We deliver support in seven other locations in Edinburgh to ensure the support is accessible city wide ; and via our partnerships, debt advice, advocacy for benefits, food and fuel aid are all available.”   Andrew Howe, chaplain at Granton Corps, delivered the blessing. “This ceremony is a way of acknowledging the blessing that a pet can be for someone who is lonely or isolated, the happiness and learning animals bring to children or simply the selfless joy of looking after one of God’s creatures,” he said. The Granton Corps is a centre for The Salvations Army’s digital skills and employability services. Funded by the Good Things Foundation, the digital skills team provide a range of support, either one-to-one , or in group workshops, in person or remotely. This article first appeared on The Salvation Army's UK and Ireland Territory website.

The northern town of Rochester, on the Campaspe River in Victoria, received more than 150mm of rain and the town was ordered to evacuate on Monday 8 January. Although the river is now at minor flood level and receding, there is still water over the roads and it’s not yet safe for residents to return. The Rochester Corps, which was inundated by flood waters in the 2022 floods and had only recently re-opened, had water up to the driveway but was not damaged. Over the past few days, Rochester Corps Officers, Captains Cameron and Maryanne Lovering, and their team, have been supporting State Emergency Service (SES) teams and locals impacted by the floods. “We supplied a fish and chip lunch to SES workers, served 46 for dinner at the corps, provided breakfast and coffee for Australian Defence Force (ADF) workers and made the corps available for them to take a break from their sandbagging,” said Cameron. “We also ordered 66 pizzas for dinner for the impacted community and emergency services, including the ADF. “We have been handing out cold cans of drink and chocolate bars to the volunteers on the sand-bagging lines and are also funding a pizza meal from Rochy Pizza for the local football and netball club players who were a part of that work. “Around 300 burgers for the community for dinner was also provided at Bowser Bean (BP servo). “We know that building relationships and camaraderie is one of the best ways to help people recover from disasters, so we get behind these events.” Many people in the Rochester community are still recovering from the catastrophic flood event in October 2022, with many still living in sheds, caravans and damaged homes. Others have only recently moved back into repaired homes. “This has been an emotionally triggering event for many and there is a general angst in the community,” said Cameron. “We are doing all we can to provide food, fellowship, friendship and pastoral care and to help facilitate community recovery. “The Salvation Army has been in the community supporting people for almost 135 years, and we will continue to live, love and fight alongside them.”

In this next installment of 'God Defining Moments', Colonel Wendy Walters talks about trusting God in difficult circumstances and remembering that his timing is always perfect. Wendy encourages us to look to God's faithfulness both past and present, and to cling to the assurance of salvation.

BY LERISSE SMITH A harsh reality for many women who have experienced family violence is that securing a long-term private rental is all but impossible. However, an innovative and pioneering Salvation Army pilot program, Heading H.O.M.E. (Holistic Outcomes Through Meaningful Engagement), is helping to transform the impossible into the possible, imbuing women with great hope their lives can indeed change for the better through supporting women and children into long-term private rental. A mother of two, *Sarah is one example of a woman whose life has positively changed through the program’s support in achieving her goal. “I came from a situation where I had no savings, no money to even buy food for the kids at times,” Sarah said. “Being a part of this program has helped me save for the future. I want to save and be able to buy a home for me and my children.” Breathing space Heading H.O.M.E has run since March this year. The Salvation Army Family Violence Programs and Salvation Army Housing Victoria have been funded through Family Safety Victoria to implement a pilot project to support exit pathways from refuge and crisis accommodation for victim-survivors of family violence in Victoria, along with five other organisations across the state. The aim of the pilot program is for the victim-survivors to take over a lease at the end of the 12 to 16-month supported tenancy. It headleases properties with women repaying the rent in a tapering model that helps give participants financial breathing space while they get various matters sorted such as Child Support, Centrelink and financial settlements from separation/divorce. The program also allows women to return to work once they are settled in a home. “Many clients face huge challenges when it comes to securing long-term housing due to the ongoing effects of family violence,” said Bessie Campbell, Senior Family Violence Project Coordinator. “The greatest benefit of the program is that it supports victim-survivors of family violence to access long-term, sustainable housing options, a crucial factor in their recovery journey from their experiences of family violence.” “In supporting victim survivors with accessing sustainable housing options as an exit option from refuge and crisis accommodation, Heading H.O.M.E is assisting to free up refuge and crisis accommodation for other victim-survivors who need it. By reducing barriers to accessing private rental properties, the project empowers victim-survivors and supports their journey towards a life free from violence.” Bessie said the program was currently funded until the end of the 2024-25 financial year, but the team was hopeful the success of the Heading H.O.M.E would result in the program becoming an ongoing one for The Salvation Army. It is currently funded to secure and provide tenancy management support for 35 properties (Brimbank Melton, Barwon, Inner Gippsland, Northeast Metro Melbourne, and Bayside Peninsula Area) and five properties in Ballarat. Demanding rental market Sarah and her children, Sam and Annie, lived in short-term and long-term refuges for several months before joining the Heading H.O.M.E program. Many of their immediate and long-term needs had been met, and the family violence risk had been mitigated, so the family was in the recovery phase of their journey and ready to move into suitable long-term accommodation. It was then that their practitioner at the refuge assessed Sarah would be suitable to sustain private rental long-term and completed a referral to Heading H.O.M.E. Although Sarah had independently applied for rentals while in long-term refuge, she had no savings or income, which had impacted her ability to compete in the demanding Melbourne rental market. She felt hopeless after receiving many rejections from real estate agents on her housing applications, and she was also caring full-time for her children while at the refuge and unable to look for employment. With the guarantee of 16 months’ rent in advance and the reassurance that Sarah would be supported with her tenancy for that period, Sarah was accepted for a private rental through Heading H.O.M.E. “After trying so hard for a long time, I felt really lucky when I was finally approved for a rental property,” she said. Sarah and her children had initially left their home with only one bag of clothes, so they had no furniture, whitegoods or other household essentials. She also did not have the savings to purchase these items. Welcoming home Through Heading H.O.M.E, an application was completed to a partner philanthropic organisation that could completely furnish the property for Sarah and her children. Sarah stated that it was just a normal, empty house when she first inspected it properly. “When I signed the papers, received the key and walked inside, it was so beautifully furnished. There was even a vase with beautiful flowers on the table, and it made me incredibly happy,” Sarah said. “I have always only had used furniture or things that someone gave me. This is the first time I’ve had new furniture in the house. It felt like a five-star hotel; I’ve never had this before.” “I feel confident I now have the skills to continue managing my tenancy independently.” Now living in a stable home, Sarah was ready to start working. Heading H.O.M.E. was able to complete a referral to another partner organisation that employs women in the construction industry. Sarah was able to complete the relevant certificate in construction and was placed in a position that was flexible around her children’s school and understanding of her situation and the challenges that might arise in maintaining employment. Annie and Sam are now settled well into their new school, with Sarah stating her children are very happy that they now have a place to call home and didn’t have to move anymore. At the end of her supported tenancy period with Heading H.O.M.E, Sarah plans to take over the lease, having been supported by the Heading H.O.M.E Specialist Housing Worker and Recovery Support Practitioner. “I feel confident I now have the skills to continue managing my tenancy independently,” she said. (*names have been changed to protect the identity of the family)

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 month, we are praying for the territories of Malawi, USA Eastern, Russia and Pakistan. Malawi Territory requests your prayers for: ·       Leadership: That God may guide our leaders as they continue to lead the territory into self-reliance and for soldiery support (10 corps have been earmarked to be self-reliant by 2024). ·       Salvationists: For the spiritual and physical health and well-being of all officers, staff, soldiers in the territory. ·       Youth and Children: 2024 has been declared a year of youth and children in the territory. We request prayers for youth and children ministry to continue to grow and each young salvationist to be an agent of expanding The Salvation Army mission in their community. ·       Men’s Fellowship: Pray for continued growth of men’s ministry in the territory and that men would have a zeal of winning more souls for God. ·       Economic situation in Malawi: The price of commodities has been rising sharply. Pray for people’s resilience and God’s intervention. Special events planned for 2024: o   Territorial women's rally 15-18 August that will be held in Blantyre, Malawi. We request prayers that the women attending this rally will have renewal and spiritual growth through an encounter with God that will transform their lives. o   Annual divisional congresses in September. o   Commissioning of cadets in November. o   Territorial executive conferences in June and December. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and and to download the calendar, click here.