Journey to Bethlehem is an adaption of the Biblical nativity story, depicting the birth of Jesus with all the festive fun of a Christmas musical. Directed by Adam Anders in his feature-length directorial debut, Journey to Bethlehem stars Milo Manheim and Fiona Palomo as Joseph and Mary, with Lecrae as Gabriel and Antonio Banderas as King Herod. This live-action Christmas musical celebration for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies into new pop songs in a music-infused retelling of the timeless story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. For those seeking the meaning of Christmas and a fun family time during the holiday season, Journey to Bethlehem opens in cinemas in Australia on 30 November.

To read Graham’s tribute, click here

Session: Defenders of Justice From: Auburn Corps (NSW) Appointed to: Corps Officer at Cairns Corps (Qld) Silver Star recipients: Mrs Winifred Wallace. Mr Prince Coker Academic award: Certificate of Salvation Army Officer Training Diploma in Theology I am Beola. I have come from Sierra Leone, West Africa, and came with my husband Edward to Australia in 2009. Due to a civil war, my husband and I had to flee to a neighbouring country and later resettled in Australia with the assistance of The Salvation Army. I was born and raised in a Christian home in Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone. I came to know the Lord at the age of 15 in a Scripture Union meeting. My journey to where I am now all started when I came to Australia and was introduced to The Salvation Army at the Auburn Corps. The impactful influence they had on me made me feel a sense of spiritual belonging, as if it gave me a chance to give back. This is how my journey at The Salvation Army started. My husband and I were given the opportunity to come to Eva Burrows College to study theology. Entering college was a very exciting moment for me. However, being in college has continued to reveal God’s faithfulness and plan for me. My favourite Scripture verse is Joshua 1:9 (NIV): “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do no be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This always reminds me that God is with me always. As I am here now using the gift that was given to me to give the gift of love that God showed to me many years ago. Bible verse: “With great understanding, Wisdom is calling out as she stands at the crossroads and on every hill. She stands by the city gate where everyone enters the city, and she shouts: ‘I am calling out to each one of you! Good sense and sound judgement can be yours. Listen because what I say is worthwhile and right. I always speak the truth and refuse to tell a lie. Every word I speak is honest, not one is misleading or deceptive. If you have understanding, you will see that my words are just what you need. Let instruction and knowledge mean more to you than silver or the finest gold. Wisdom is worth much more than precious jewels or anything else you desire’” (Proverbs 8:1-11 (CEV).

In communities across the Central American nation of Guatemala, known for its violence and high crime rates, The Salvation Army is working hard to provide a place of refuge for students, parents and primary caregivers. The Salvation Army in Guatemala operates four primary schools and two after-school programs in the southern part of the country, all within three hours’ driving distance from Guatemala City. The Salvation Army World Services Office (SAWSO) School and Teacher Empowerment project supports five of these schools. Located in extremely disadvantaged communities, these schools not only provide an education for children, but they are critical to The Salvation Army’s ministry in Guatemala. Guns, violence and criminal gang activity are part of daily life here. Schools provide a safe learning environment for children and also provide support for parents, such as socio-emotional training, and a food pantry when supplies are available. Educational support However, schools are reliant on tuition fees to cover operational costs. As disenfranchised families struggle with meagre incomes, collecting school tuition has been increasingly challenging. Instructional material, teacher salaries, and professional development opportunities have been under-resourced. These factors, combined with a lack of infrastructural investment, significantly impact the quality of education on offer. Specialising in ongoing educational support in countries around the globe, SAWSO has been supporting this project for the past three years, along with temporary operational community resources. SAWSO’s goals for this project include improved quality of education and financial self-sustainability. To reach these goals, SAWSO collaborated with the local Salvation Army, seeking to transform the four primary schools into renowned centres of educational excellence. These schools will also serve as community engagement and outreach centres for children from disadvantaged families and those seeking quality education for their children. SAWSO immediately improved the allocation of funds for temporary salary aid and other classroom needs. Schoolteachers, principals and administrators were provided with a two-year professional development program, tailored to meet local educational challenges. Active learning, literacy instruction, subject-specific training (including special needs), monitoring tools and skills, assessment and inclusion, financial administration, after-school remedial and enrichment activities, and community engagement were identified as key trainings for success. Community engagement Community engagement is also a critical aspect of improving home-learning environments and educational capacity to tackle future public health challenges. Prodessa, a Guatemalan educational Non-Government Organisation, provided much of the training for this project. Prodessa’s focus on inclusion, community engagement and localisation are uniquely suited to the community-based education offered by The Salvation Army. The four Salvation Army schools in Guatemala provide more than an education to children; they serve as major sources of community outreach. The teachers and principals of these schools provide a safe and encouraging environment for children. Motivated by their values and passion, they work to set the next generation up for success. Kendy Diaz, a primary school teacher proudly working in The Salvation Army school in Tierra Nueva for six years, said, “We are always here as teachers, regardless of the circumstances that may occur with nature or the environment in the community.” Another teacher, Patricia Ordonez, said, “Our mission is to give (children) an education with Christian values so that they can be blessed in their families.” This article first appeared in the SAWSO Annual Report 2023. To read the report, and for more information, click here.

To read Cliff’s tribute, click here

Salvos Stores across southern Sydney have been gifted a local resource folder so that staff and volunteers can provide information to customers needing assistance. The resource – rolled out throughout the Sutherland Shire and Helensburgh in Wollongong’s north – was created by Salvation Army Community Engagement/Mission Leader Michelle Wheatley, who works part-time at Sutherland Salvos Store. She said he was finding that when she was in the store, staff and volunteers regularly referred shoppers to her who had mentioned that they were in hardship. As a community worker, Michelle was able to chat with them about their needs and make referrals for them to Salvation Army and other local services. “And I was thinking, ‘well, what about when I’m not there?’” she said. So, she developed a folder full of information on different Salvation Army services, other charities, lists of where people can access free food and meals, and places where they can get assistance. She also created a personalised one for every Salvos Store within the Shire Salvos area, where community workers are positioned part-time. Staff, volunteers and management have gratefully received those folders. The one in Helensburgh Salvos Store now lives under the front desk so that if any customer mentions that they are in need, staff can give them access to the folder and allow them to take photos of the brochures, phone numbers and information within it. “Salvos Stores is often the first point of contact for people in our community who are hurting and in need,” said Michelle. “It feels good to equip staff and volunteers to be able to point them in the right direction for assistance.” – LAUREN MARTIN

Fleeing a worn-torn country, surviving a cramped refugee camp, boarding a plane to new-found freedom and being embraced by the Great Southland all form part of Beola and Edward Conteh’s remarkable life history thus far. As they prepare to be commissioned as Salvation Army officers, Salvos Online writer LERISSE SMITH sat down with the couple to talk about their hopes, dreams, resilience – and how just one plane ticket literally changed their lives. Beola and Edward will never forget boarding the plane. It was to change their lives forever. As the couple prepared for take-off with seatbelts fastened, overhead lockers firmly shut, and air safety procedures completed, Edward looked up to the ceiling to notice something he had never seen before. Air-conditioning on a plane. As the breeze flowed gently through the vents to the cabin, he couldn’t stop looking up, fascinated with what he was witnessing. For Beola, she was pinching herself to ensure she wasn’t in a dream but was actually on a plane. It was then, at this moment, the couple experienced the greatest epiphany of their lives. “We are free. We are free. We are actually free!” Beola recalled. “The Salvation Army saved our lives. It was emotional. It was joy ... we saw the plane trip as a living testimony that God could rescue people. We had been through being persecuted, everything taken out. But we were alive now.” And as the plane landed, Beola remembered saying, “Oh God, thank you!” She couldn’t believe it was herself and her husband coming from so far away. “We never knew we would be in Australia,” she said. “I said to God, ‘Your will be done it for us. Thank you, Holy Spirit.’ We were saved.” The incredible story behind how they got to board the plane to freedom was a miracle in itself. After fleeing the civil war in Sierra Leone and then spending years surviving refugee camps “one day at a time” in Guinea Conakry, a West African country bordering Sierra Leone, someone met the couple at a Guinea church one day who informed them they were a friend of Beola’s aunty who lived in Sydney, Australia. That person connected the couple to her aunty – and the rest is history. “Our aunty said, ‘Come, live with me’,” the couple said. “She was affiliated with The Salvation Army, and that’s where we learnt about the Army. So, they organised sponsorship for us, and the next thing we knew, we were on a plane with a small suitcase. “When we walked out to the airport terminal in Sydney, we were greeted by The Salvation Army and a large group of people that we had never met. They had flowers for us and were singing. We cried tears of joy. It was unforgettable.” Thus began a journey for the pair that would lead them to Sydney and then to Melbourne, changing the trajectory of their lives forever. Since planting their feet firmly on Australian soil in 2009, Beola and Edward couldn’t be happier. Chat with the spritely duo, and it’s immediately apparent they are with The Salvation Army for life. It’s their family. The couple thrive on being part of the missional organisation, serving and loving others, and continually emphasise how much they always want to give God the glory – and how grateful they are at being given a second chance at life. “We are very excited to become corps officers; it’s a dream come true,” Edward said. “We need to share the love of God, the Word of God, with his people. Sometimes people lose their direction in life. We want to be an example. I’m sure some people walk in and wonder if The Salvation Army will ever get black officers or Africans or people from overseas to become commissioned officers. We thank God we are leading the pace, making this huge step in the sand. The Salvation Army is our family and has been a huge blessing for us. They don’t discriminate.” Both Beola and Edward emphasised how much they loved studying at Eva Burrows College and look forward to being commissioned this coming Sunday. “We came in with all this zeal and a mind ready to study, to learn,” Edward remarked. “It has been the best experience for us. The staff have always been encouraging, supportive and available anytime to help.” Journey to officership Beola and Edward’s journey to officership started as soon they migrated to Australia. Upon their arrival, they immediately joined The Salvation Army and felt the calling to minister to others. They became senior soldiers, with Edward becoming a concierge at the door for NSW/ACT Divisional Headquarters and later as a ministry assistant at Auburn Corps in Sydney. In 2017, Edward became an auxiliary-lieutenant. They entered training college as cadets of the Defenders of Justice session. “There is no treasure bigger than the desire to achieve the good things … to love and care for others.” – Edward Conteh Beola has undertaken many years of voluntary work and has been involved in church leadership, women’s, children’s and youth ministries, the Red Shield Appeal, the church greeting team, and general daily support. On top of this, Beola loves to listen to people’s stories, especially women, and to encourage them to speak up about their lives. She loves to encourage women, too. Edward has also led many programs, including in the areas of multicultural, homelessness and mental health. A key driving force in their lives is to fight for justice. Beola and Edward have built much resilience due to the great suffering endured in the past, plus endless reserves of empathy and compassion for those undergoing difficult times. “Our heart is about the people,” Edward said. “We are about justice, and we will fight for justice. God said, if you do this to the least of my brethren, you have done it to me. Our desire is to give back to the loss, to the suffering, to the addicted, to people who are mentally disturbed. There are people who don’t see life in any feature anymore. Life can be derailed, right? But it does not necessarily mean that it is your fault, or my fault or their fault. Things happen. We want to show the love of God to people who need it the most.” And the future is clear for Beola and Edward – they want to grow many disciples and dream of travelling to the Holy Land one day. “There is no treasure bigger than the desire to achieve the good things … to love and care for others,” Edward said. “The Army has invested a lot not only in us but the call of God upon our lives. They have given us reassured hope. So, God is working immensely in The Salvation Army, and it’s not about Bible-bashing people. “It’s about giving hope that is so desperately needed in this world.”

Session: Reflectors of Holiness From: Chatswood Corps, NSW Appointed to: Corps Officer at Rouse Hill Corps (NSW) Silver Star recipients: Ms Fengyun Li. Mr Zhenting Song Academic award: Certificate of Salvation Army Officer Training Master of Theological Studies – in progress I was born and raised in the north-east part of China. I grew up in a Buddhist-influenced tradition and environment. But a church was just outside of my primary school. Occasionally I visited there with our neighbours who were Christians. I came to Australia to do further study after I completed university and qualified as a teacher. Years later, I went through a significant relationship breakdown. In the midst of chaos, I found Jesus. God brought me light during the hardship and made me see a new hope. Jesus became my lifesaver for the trial and also for eternity. The calling to ministry started with a question in my mind out of the admiration and respect for Salvation Army officers: “What kind of people are qualified to be an officer that they are able to do such a sacred and valuable job?” The training is a transformative journey for my personal and spiritual growth, academic theological competency and sharpening my tools for the ministry role. It is not only for the sake of becoming a minister but also for reshaping myself into a spiritually, emotionally and physically holistically healthy new self, and being equipped to be a capable servant leader of God. I’m excited yet somewhat feeling challenged with my future ministry. But I know I can trust God’s guidance. I am willing to keep on witnessing God’s almighty power and participating in the abundant blessings to unfold. Bible verse: “You didn’t choose me, but I’ve chosen and commissioned you to go into the world to bear fruit. And your fruit will last because whatever you ask of my Father, for my sake, he will give it to you!” (John 15:16 [TPT]).

The Basin site in Victoria, owned by The Salvation Army since the 1890s, will soon be home to the Salvos’ very first solar farm. The farm will add five megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy into the Army’s capacity every year while also providing long-term cost-saving benefits. Due to open in late 2024, the solar farm will add more energy to the existing 2.8MW of solar energy generated across Salvos rooftops, bringing our total solar capacity up to 7.8MW – enough energy to power approximately 6240 homes. It is expected to reduce the Army’s carbon emissions from electricity by 60 per cent in Victoria. This will significantly move the Army closer to its emissions reduction plans. The solar farm will support the Army’s environmental policy – as people made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we have been entrusted with the care of the earth’s resources (Genesis 2:15). This drives the Army to demonstrate sound stewardship of these resources to ensure the wellbeing of present and future generations. The solar farm is also expected to have a positive social impact due to the likelihood of increased demand for Salvos services with the ever-increasing intensity and frequency of natural disasters. By having its own energy source, the Army can reduce its reliance on power sourced from the grid and meet the increased demand for its frontline services. More information will be shared over the coming months as this exciting project progresses.

Different expressions of The Salvation Army’s faith community in Sydney were invited to take part in the Sydney Mission Summit for worship, teaching and connection on 5 November. “Divisional Commander Captain Kim Haworth challenged us to have not just faith in God, but the faith of God, and to have faith for greater things!" said Major Robyn Black, Area Officer – Sydney. “Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam, Gluyas shared her heart about the need for The Salvation Army to be a spiritual home for people and for us to be vigilant in prayer for people. “At night, Miriam spoke at the youth service and encouraged the young people to be a Hero Generation, stepping up in leadership, working for social justice and sharing Jesus with others. “It was such a great day. Jesus was honoured, we were inspired, good food was consumed, friendships were made and renewed. All glory to God for his goodness.”

Noticing a growing number of international students who were vulnerable and isolated, the team at Melbourne Project 614 started The Couch in 2010. Major Brendan Nottle says: “The Salvation Army was raised up to work with the outsider, to bring the most vulnerable into the centre of the community and wrap support around them. The Couch is a fun and safe place for students to gather, share a meal, get practical support, and make new friends.”

Social isolation is one of the biggest challenges for overseas seasonal workers who come to Australia. Separation from family, community and faith can have a big effect on people’s wellbeing. In collaboration with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Program (PALM), The Salvation Army has been building a network of local community groups to help foster healthy relationships and make Australia feel like a second home.