1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? I am currently a corps officer at Rockingham in WA with my husband Darrell, and we are going into our 14th year next year. I love being able to journey with people and show love to our community in my various roles. I am really loving seeing collaboration grow in both the community/social sector and across churches. 2. Away from the appointment (if that’s possible!), what do you do to relax or unwind? I love to walk, run, go to the gym, read, be a part of a book club, and catch up with friends over good food. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? The first song that comes to mind is Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me. I particularly like the line, ‘I labour on in weakness and rejoicing’. It is real. At times life can be tiring, but I continue to have hope and gratitude for God. 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? The person who comes to mind is Mary, Jesus’ mother. I think I would want to talk about motherhood and what raising her family was like. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? I love what I do. I spend most days alongside people who are vulnerable and in hardship; I can be a listening ear and a person of support. I love being able to bring hope to people and let them know they are valuable.

The Salvation Army in Australia is embarking on a year of prayer, calling all our corps and communities to come together, listen to God and share what they’re hearing. Facilitated by Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane, Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, the initiative came about after many months of seeking God’s voice. Salvos Online writer ANTHONY CASTLE interviewed Rosy about her hopes for the year ahead What is the Year of Prayer, and how does it work? The Year of Prayer is a rhythm of spiritual life, a way for the movement to connect with God and each other, centred around weekly Scriptures and reflections. The year is laid out as a Scripture calendar, but we’re really asking people to journey through the devotional cards to engage in prayer. Each card has the week’s Scripture verse on the front, and the back has two points to ‘Pray and Discern’, and an activity that you can participate in by yourself, with a group, or with children in mind. The devotional cards are there to have somewhere close, on your desk, or bedside table, somewhere you can see them and pray through each day. You can also view them online on the website, or through our socials if you don’t have a physical copy. Where did the idea come from? Every year, the Spiritual Life Department has been running a national prayer focus. This year I was praying about what God wanted us to do, and it was really, really difficult because God was silent for ages. When God challenged me through a friend’s words to truly commit my whole self to The Salvation Army Australia, to count it as home, I finally heard God say, “I want you to call The Salvation Army to a year of prayer.” When I sat down to write the cards, it came so quickly – but it was truly a year of patient discernment, even allowing myself to appear foolish or uncertain as I truly sat and waited for God to speak before I acted. Prayer can sometimes be done only one way, quiet in church or on your own at home, but people’s temperaments can actually be quite diverse. Can people participate in prayer in different ways? I’m a millennial. Most of my friends don’t go to church. I wanted to create something that was inclusive of everyone, of those in faith communities, but also accessible for those who aren’t. I tried not to use jargon and intentionally worded the cards for friends I know, trying to think of those who don’t have an English-speaking church background. The cards are easy to do alone, or in groups, at a café, wherever. On Wednesdays, there’s a call to creativity on the Facebook page. On Thursdays, all Salvo employees are invited to participate online with the THQ chapel service. Every Sunday, there’s a call to prayer – either where you are, or you’re welcome to join our online ‘prayer circle’. The whole idea is that of finding your own rhythm in it. Jesus says, “My yoke is easy, my burden is light”, and it’s about engaging with prayer in the way that’s easy for you, with a view of learning to listen to God and leaning into that difference. What happens when people pray together? What difference does it make? I often think in pictures. I think of it like a bee’s antennae. We’re not the bee, we’re the little part of the antennae, that move and listen together. When we come together, and drill down, we can really listen. There’s something so beautiful and humbling, sitting in prayer, in community, on country. We become more like God and more like Good News to the world. We also encourage people to share online, what they’re getting from it all. That’s part of it, too, the listening to others and to God. It’s easy to do it all ‘top-down’, you must do this, but that’s not the Kingdom of God. The Body of Christ works together, so I wanted it to be people praying together, listening together, and speaking together. When you look at the world, at what teenagers are facing, at the conflicts and chaos, all the pain and tragedy, it’s so hard to know how to respond. But we have the Spirit. God speaks and we can listen. It’s the first thing we can do. To find out all you need to know about our Year of Prayer, just click on the following links or copy and paste into your browser: My Salvos - https://my.salvos.org.au/a-year-of-prayer/ Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/tsayearofprayer?mibextid=LQQJ4d Or contact Aux-Lieutenant Rosy Keane at rosy.keane@salvationarmy.org.au

The Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Out of the Defenders of Justice and Reflectors of Holiness will be held over the last weekend in November. Please mark the following dates and times in your calendars for this significant event in the lives of our soon-to-be-commissioned cadets. Friday 24 November at Adelaide City Salvos (7.30pm): Cadet Leeanne Pattison (Defenders of Justice). Sunday 26 November at Auburn Corps (10.30am): Cadets Edward and Beola Conteh (Defenders of Justice). David Delany (Reflectors of Holiness). Vikki Song (Reflectors of Holiness). CALL TO PRAYER BY CAPTAIN KYLIE HERRING In Officer Formation Stream (OFS) – staff and cadets alike have commenced a countdown to Commissioning. Those being commissioned – Vikki Song, David Delany, Edward and Beola Conteh and Leeanne Pattison – are preparing themselves for a sacred event – the making of a covenant that will mark the conclusion of their officer formation journey and their entry into the vocation of officership. The signing of the covenant marks entry into a deeply spiritual relationship with God for sacred service. To be ordained and commissioned as a Salvation Army Officer, the following covenant is made: Called by God to proclaim the Gospel of our lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as an officer of The Salvation Army, I bind myself to Him in this solemn Covenant: To love, trust and serve him supremely all my days, To live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life, To care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unloved, and befriend those who have no friends, To maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army, and, by God’s grace, to prove myself a worthy officer. Our hope and prayer is that the journey of formation each of our cadets have taken over the period of their training has prepared each of them to step with confidence into these significant and sacred moments. During their formation, our cadets have engaged with the three spheres of formation - personal and spiritual, mission and ministry, education and theological - and have demonstrated their commitment to integrating their learning into their ministry and leadership practice. Our Covenant Service is the first of our Commissioning events and will take place in person at Eva Burrows College, Melbourne Campus on Thursday 23 November. We ask you to cover our cadets with your prayers over the coming weeks.

As onsite classes resumed in Ecuador, South America, after the pandemic, families faced the challenges of buying necessary school supplies for their children. In the Northern Highlands city of Quito, the school year concludes in June and the new school year begins in September. The months in between are a cause of concern for parents as they worry about securing the school supplies that are required for their children to start classes. The economic impact of the pandemic hit many families hard, with parents losing jobs or facing reduced income. As a result, some parents struggled to afford the necessary school items for their children. Some children were at risk of missing school or achieving minimal success due to the lack of essential supplies. Without the items, the children can sometimes even be held out of school. The Salvation Army World Service Office coordinated a project with Salvation Army corps in Ecuador and funded the purchase of 586 backpacks for students in need. Each backpack was generously filled with essential school supplies, ensuring that the young recipients would start the new school year on the right foot. The supplies included items such as notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, calculators, erasers, rulers and more. The target recipients were vulnerable children between the ages of six and 10 living on the outskirts of six communities. For many of the children in these remote regions, the backpacks and supplies they received were the first they had ever owned. The excitement and joy of receiving these essential items were palpable, and the project had a profound impact on the students and their families. The distribution of school supplies also had far-reaching effects on the education landscape of these underserved communities. They enabled the children to focus better on their studies, boosting their confidence and academic performance. Additionally, teachers and school staff felt relieved knowing that their students had the necessary tools for success, allowing them to concentrate on providing quality education. The project’s success demonstrated The Salvation Army'’s commitment to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, even in the most challenging conditions. Through their efforts, the project positively impacted the lives of 586 children and their families, creating a ripple effect that would benefit the entire community. By supporting education and empowering young minds, The Salvation Army played a crucial role in helping Ecuadorian communities rebuild and move forward.

BY LAUREN MARTIN In what some have called the ‘modern-day open-air’, Hurstville Corps hit the local plaza in Sydney’s south recently to worship with their community in a ‘Many Cultures One Hope Event’ that attracted hundreds of people. The event, organised by Hurstville Salvation Army with the assistance of The Salvation Army’s Intercultural and Disability Inclusion Team and Salvo Ambassador, Councillor Ben Wang from Georges River Council, was held at Hurstville Plaza – right near the train station and the main shopping centre. The corps’ band attracted a lot of attention, and the ‘Just Brass’ performance was popular with parents and friends of the young people, swelling the audience of passers-by. With food trucks from different nations, a performance area, a prayer tent and stalls set up to showcase the different Salvo services and corps-based ministries, the event showcased the diversity of The Salvation Army to the local community. “Crucially, the event also incorporated culturally sensitive methods to introduce the message of Jesus Christ to those interested,” said Nuria Gonsalves of The Salvation Army’s CALD team, who helped organise the event. The event was kicked off with prayer, there were multilingual prayer tent opportunities, and corps members had prayer cards to give away to people they had conversations with. “We wanted to create an environment where everyone felt comfortable exploring their faith and spirituality, regardless of where they come from,” Nuria said. “Our approach was to build bridges, not barriers.” Corps Officers Major Sherrie Nicol and Lieutenant Beth Shao said corps members were enthusiastic but unsure how the community would receive the event. But, on the day, upwards of 50 corps members attended in uniform and were encouraged by the way God moved throughout the day. “People realise that church is not just inside the building – church can get outside,” said Sherrie. One of the key features of ‘Many Cultures, One Hope’ was inviting various community groups to perform on the day. There were performances from Ukrainian dancers, Nepalese children’s groups, African drummers and Chinese dancers. “People were saying how good it was,” said Beth Shao, “because it’s been a long time since there’s been events like it since the COVID-19 lockdowns.” In between performances, Christians from various cultural backgrounds gave their testimony. A highlight of the day was towards the close of the event. It was decided to play different songs over the speaker, which led to people from all nations dancing together. “We had the song ‘This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine’,” said Nuria, who recalled how beautiful it was to be part of the singing and dancing together between community members who may not have even known each other. The Salvation Army’s Intercultural and Disability Inclusion Team would love to speak to any corps that might want to organise a similar event. If you are interested in finding out more, contact Nuria Gonsalves at nuria.gonsalves@salvationarmy.org.au Slideshow of event below:

Have you ever wondered what’s in the wardrobes of some of Australia’s best-known and best-dressed identities? South Australian celebrities and media gathered recently to find out at a fundraising auction for the work of The Salvation Army in Adelaide. Jane Doyle OAM, former Channel 7 newsreader and long-time supporter of The Salvation Army, asked her media friends and other SA celebrities to rummage through their wardrobes and offer some of their favourite items for the auction. The response created The Cloakroom, a unique charity auction selling preloved shoes, garments, hats, handbags and other accessories, with proceeds helping meet the needs of Adelaide’s vulnerable and homeless community members. “The idea for this event grew from a throwaway comment I made while emceeing the Red Shield Appeal launch in May,” Jane said. “I mentioned that having left Seven News, I had an over-full wardrobe that may benefit the Salvos. Little did I realise that by the end of the event, Scammells would offer to stage a charity auction, and Mercedes Benz Adelaide and Unley would step up as sponsors.” Hosted by Scammell Auctions, more than 160 items contributed to both an online auction and a prestigious cocktail event in their showrooms on Friday 27 October, where a selection of the finest pieces were sold by live auction. Donors ranged from Her Excellency, Governor of South Australia, Frances Adamson to Hans, international superstar and accordion-toting wunderkind. Unique collector items include a hand-beaded, Roger Kirk-designed evening dress from State Opera South Australia’s recent production of HMS Pinafore and the iconic black glasses worn by Jane Doyle on her first night at the Seven News desk in 1989. Local designers, including Paolo Sebastian, were represented, and it wouldn’t have been a celebrity auction without a pair of Willsy’s dazzling earrings. The event raised almost $12,000 for The Salvation Army’s work, made possible by the generosity and support of Jane Doyle, Scammell Auctions and Mercedes Benz Adelaide and Unley.

BY ANTHONY CASTLE A new partnership between The Salvation Army and Hearing Australia has launched at Project 614. Based out of the Salvos’ Magpie Nest Cafe in the Melbourne CBD, Hearing Australia will now provide hearing services to people who may be homeless, have drug and alcohol addiction or have mental health and general health issues. “The work they have been doing in the cafe in recent times has been transformative for some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Major Brendan Nottle, Project 614 Corps Officer. “Hearing Australia are conducting hearing tests in a very relaxed and informal environment and helping to provide the support people need to become reconnected with the community once again. We are really looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Hearing Australia, and we believe that some of the most vulnerable people in our community will benefit significantly from this partnership in the cafe.” The Magpie Nest Cafe provides free meals, crisis intervention and support, and general and ongoing support to people in need, including people experiencing homelessness, people living in boarding and rooming houses, asylum seekers and international students. Now, it will also provide regular support services for listening and communication. “Hearing Australia is proud to partner with The Salvation Army to provide hearing services to their clients visiting the Magpie Nest Cafe,” said Kim Terrell, Hearing Australia Managing Director. “Just like the Salvation Army, we’re committed to improving the lives of others, regardless of their age, location or background. Our mission is to provide world-leading research and hearing services for the wellbeing of all Australians.” Hearing loss impacts 3.6 million Australians, with more than 1.3 million people living with a hearing condition that could have been prevented and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children suffering from a higher rate of ear disease. “This is an exciting new partnership and pilot initiative,” said Joseph Pinkard, The Salvation Army’s Disability Inclusion Lead. “It will help contribute to The Salvation Army’s strategic priority of ‘supporting those who need it most’ by increasing access to vital hearing services for some of the most vulnerable in our community.” The Salvation Army’s Intercultural and Disability Inclusion Team inspires and equips people so that cultural diversity and disability inclusion is embedded in the organisation’s mission. The Salvos work to support young people with intellectual disabilities at services like Skills 4 Life and offer disability-specific services at Employment Plus. “Ensuring there is equitable access to hearing services for all not only benefits the individual but also our society,” explained Joseph. “The World Health Organisation estimates that unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of over AUD$1 trillion. This includes health sector costs, cost of educational support, loss of productivity, and societal costs (World Health Organisation 2023).” The new services now offered at Project 614 include reviews of hearing and communication needs, selecting, fitting and helping people make good use of hearing devices and ongoing clinical care and device repair services. “The Salvation Army Magpie Nest Cafe at Bourke Street sees over 500 people a day,” Brendan said. “We are extremely grateful to NDIS and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten for connecting us with Hearing Australia.”

Eighty delegates from the Australia Territory and New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory recently gathered at Booth College of Mission in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, for the first Thought Matters Theological Symposium in four years. The theme of the symposium was ‘Kotahitanga: Unity in a Time of Division’. JULES BADGER* attended and offered some observations from this important weekend. I don’t consider myself a theologian. In fact, I was considering breaking up with theology altogether because of what was beginning to feel like an ever-expanding chasm in the capacity of people of faith to find consensus on matters that affect real people. Lately, this relentless debate over ‘right’ theology has been doing my head in and hurting my heart – I know I’m not alone in this. But this year’s theme caught my interest because it spoke to that pain. I was even more compelled to attend when I read the abstracts of the papers being presented. With enticing titles like ‘Living with Difference’, ‘Is Unity the Holy Grail?’, ‘Conspiracy Theories’, ‘Division, Pain and the Transformational Potential of Forgiveness’, ‘A Ministry of Reconciliation’, ‘A Model of Godly Zeal’, ‘Eating our Way to Unity’ and more. I couldn’t stay away. I confess I suffered from information overload, with most papers being re-read reflectively later, but I found myself transfixed by the passion of the presenters. For some, the learning process had been truly transformative – research and reflection bringing presenters to unexpected and, at times, uncomfortable conclusions. The work of the Spirit was evident. Unity in diversity Captain Malcolm Irwin’s paper, ‘One Body, Many Parts’, is one such example. Malcolm explored the confessions of Christian ‘racists in recovery’ and advocated that it is not diversity we fear, but the loss of white privilege. I sat up and took notice. Malcolm’s research demanded he ask himself difficult questions: “What could it mean to attack racism at the point where it has a hold over me?; In what ways could I, a frail, male, pale Pākehā, engage with the psychic place of whiteness itself?” Porirua Women’s Bible Study Group (coordinated by Captain Nicki Dutton) presented a powerful paper, titled ‘Kotahitanga, Duavata, Lotogotasi, Kāfataha, Unity’. These smart women suggested that to gain a full understanding of unity within The Salvation Army in our territory, it is necessary to look at how unity is understood in indigenous languages as well as English. “Is it possible,” they asked, "that an English definition of unity limits our ability to understand and enact our work and mission within our churches and communities?” Their research showed the richness cultural collaboration offers faith and practice. Other papers explored the question of how to hold diverse views on sexuality while honouring one another; the experiences of marginalised women in our ranks; organisational trauma; diversity and Salvation Army distinctives; and the proposal that unity in the face of diverse opinions can only be found through cruciformity (the laying down of our own rights and perspectives). I found the honesty and vulnerability of many of the presenters not only very moving but also beautiful expressions of generosity because they shared their learning so humbly. “We need an intentional unity that follows in the footsteps of Jesus, who offered the cup to Judas and welcomed the dissenter into his embrace.” I also experienced the sting of personal exposure as my own theological bias was uncovered. Major Ian Gainsford’s paper ‘Covenantal Love’ explained that many of us tend to lean toward orthodoxy (right belief) or orthopraxy (right action). I’ve found myself leaning into orthopraxy because I hate it when people are hurt or excluded supposedly because of ‘what the Bible says’. However, Ian challenged my unbalanced thinking, explaining that neither of these paradigms is sufficient. “Belief alone can be harsh, and practice alone can be overly humanist. It is the quality of orthopathy (right attitude or right heart) that is necessary to hold belief and action together. To put it another way, our unity is dependent on the practice of Christian love.” Point taken. The tension of distinctives I also confess that I had begun to succumb to the habit of what Australian Auxiliary-Lieutenant Dr Catherine Philpot, a psychologist, calls ‘cancel culture’. She explains, “If we suspect we are likely to disagree, we stop talking to each other altogether ... but we need to love well and that means despite difference. We need an intentional unity that follows in the footsteps of Jesus, who offered the cup to Judas and welcomed the dissenter into his embrace. We need a love that overcomes all barriers.” Ouch, but yes! Having been to many of these conferences over the years, Major Christina Tyson says her takeaway was “the need to work towards unity but not uniformity, and that we do also need to ensure that people experience safety when there is disunity”. Ian agrees, saying that “we tried to move from discussion about unity in the face of disagreement and division, to unity that embraces diversity and difference. We’ve been left with lots to reflect on, and the ongoing challenge of making space for loving God and loving our neighbour even when we disagree.” Australian delegate Stuart Reid (Spiritual Life Team and Mission Support) says, “This experience has been about a deepening of understanding about each other’s differing positions. But, also, a deeply embedded revisiting of our theology and distinctives as The Salvation Army. What I’m taking away is a sense of hope. While we have revisited the past, we are very much positioned for the future, and there is a willingness and commitment to forging together a new, more loving expression of Salvationism for a new world.” My takeaway? If all that thinking leads us to love one another more completely, then not only does ‘thought matter’, but I think I’ll put a hold on the break-up with theology after all. * Jules Badger is a writer for the NZFTS Territory’s SALT magazine. This article first appeared in Salt: Salvation Army life and times

Salvation Army Housing Victoria (SAHV) will redevelop a vacant site in Cobden, in Victoria’s rural south-west, for long-term social housing. The site, better known as Tandarook House, is a former 10-bed aged care facility that has sat vacant for a number of years. SAHV acquired the house four years ago and will now transform the space by constructing six one and two-bedroom units. SAHV recently received a $1.7 million grant from the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build initiative to help develop the site. Victoria Divisional Commander Colonel Kelvin Merrett welcomed the “much-needed” project. “Housing and support have always been central to The Salvation Army’s fight against hardship and injustice across Australia,” he said. “In Victoria, now more than ever, our work with Salvation Army Housing Victoria and the Victorian Government is critical to addressing homelessness in Victoria and all the challenges homelessness brings. “We welcome the support of the Victorian Government to help address some of the daily difficulties our regional clients face in securing safe and affordable housing.” The project, expected to create 21 jobs in the local area, will be based around the current infrastructure within the same building envelope. Salvation Army Housing Chief Executive Officer Chris Karagiannis said: “We are grateful and excited to be partnering with the Victorian Government and Homes Victoria on this much-needed housing project in Cobden. “Safe, secure and affordable housing is one of the most basic needs, yet we see too many Victorians facing daily challenges accessing long-term housing in regional areas. “We believe this project will help support vulnerable people in the region and provide them the opportunity to transform their lives and give them a place to call home.” The Salvation Army is the largest provider of homelessness services in Australia. SAHV is a community housing organisation providing homes for families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, are on low incomes, and have specific support needs. SAHV acquired Tandarook House as part of an agreement with the Corangamite Shire through a land swap with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) to redevelop the space for long-term social housing. The project will begin within the next few weeks as planning and other approvals are obtained. Some information courtesy of Cobden Timboon Coast Times

To read the tribute for Violet, click here

General Lyndon Buckingham shares his monthly devotion, encouraging Salvationists to continue pursuing the holy life and relying on God to equip us for the journey. Click on the devotion below:

As excitement builds for this week’s 140-year celebration of The Salvation Army’s Social Services, Salvos Online writer LERISSE SMITH spoke with Major Jenny Begent, Assistant Secretary for Mission, about the driving forces behind the Social Services work in the community, her passion for hope, change and living out the gospel – and a love of piccolo coffee. Organising a five-day major international conference to celebrate a special and unique birthday with more than 30 speakers attending the event is no mean feat – just ask Jenny. Late nights on her computer, early messages pinging on the mobile, and the consumption of way too many cups of coffee – piccolo being a favourite – have dominated her waking hours for many months in preparation for the national conference this week to celebrate The Salvation Army’s 140 years of Social Services. But as Assistant Secretary for Mission with the Social Services team with an annual budget of around $500 million, thousands of employees and volunteers, and services across all community spheres, Jenny wouldn’t have it any other way. Meet Jenny in person and she radiates a kind, down-to-earth, friendly, warm, and honest persona coupled with a great sense of humour. It’s also clear she’s passionate about what she does, why she does it and how she does it. And with the special anniversary coming to fruition next week, Jenny reflected on the “amazingness” of the Army’s Social Services role in the community spanning more than a century – starting with Major James Barker in the 1880s. “When he [James Barker] decided he was going to run a Prison Gate Brigade, the Governor of the day thought that was a great thing and gave him £500. Now, half a billion dollars is Social Mission’s national budget. That’s amazing to me!” Jenny said. “It says to me that not only governments but the people of Australia are confident that we can do what they pay us to do, and over 140 years, that confidence has grown. This is despite the Royal Commission, despite the fact that occasionally we get it wrong. They (the people of Australia) continue to trust us to get the job done. And I’m humbled by that because I’ve been a part of it. “I’m also incredibly proud that a ragtag group of scruffy officers in the late 1800s actually had a vision that people could be supported to live really good lives in the world. Even people like prisoners, who were often considered the worst and lowest in society, could be more than they were. Everybody had the chance to change, and we were able to be part of that, so thinking about it like that makes me go ‘Wow ... we haven’t done that bad!” Jenny said another key aspect of the Social Services’ amazing work was being in society from the get-go. “We’ve been in every major disaster and every major war and on the frontlines of all those kinds of major events in Australian history. We’ve been in all of those kinds of environments and were the first agency on the ground in Darwin when the cyclone hit [in 1974]. We are there whenever there’s a major disaster,” she said. “The point I’m trying to make is that we’ve grown up with the country. I think we, The Salvation Army, are in a privileged position and firmly locked into the psyche of the Australian community. The Salvation Army is part of our national identity. And I think that is such a privileged position that this national conference gives us the chance to say – how do we stay in that privileged position and what do we need to do to ensure that we continue to be who we say we are in the 21st and the 22nd centuries?” A snapshot of the last financial year reveals that Social Services provided more than 1.86 million sessions of care across all social programs, one million nights of accommodation for those in need, 1.5 million meals for those experiencing homelessness and 86,420 sessions of care for young people. Additionally, more than 11,300 people received assistance with addiction through alcohol and other drugs and gambling rehabilitation services, and almost 12,700 received free financial counselling. “It’s amazing to think how many people we’ve helped, how many meals we’ve served, how many beds we’ve provided to the most vulnerable in our community over the last 140 years,” Jenny said. “During our history, we have had the support of more than five million volunteers who have given their time so generously to help those in need through our programs. “This anniversary is a proud moment to reflect on all we have achieved, together, for our most vulnerable. So, we encourage people to come to the conference and tell us what you think. The conference is as much a listening exercise as it is a getting-stuff-done exercise.” Ask Jenny about the driving force behind her passion for Social Services and 30-year commitment to The Salvation Army, and her response is instant. “I love participating in people’s change,” she explained. “Every human being is worthy of love and belonging. I love seeing people walk through the door of a service, any old service, looking pretty sad and desperate, and seeing the change. To see them actually get what they thought they might not get, to discover hope again, and actually get a sense that they can actually do better than they are because someone’s prepared to walk alongside them. “People tell me every day about how The Salvation Army impacts their lives, to give people a sense of hope and also a sense that they can do it themselves. People are not useless, they are not hopeless, and being homeless or being poor does not mean you don’t have reserves you can draw on. The resilience of people is amazing.” Jenny’s strong Christian faith undergirds her passion for Social Services and helping countless people experiencing great pain. “You have to find a way to live the gospel rather than talk it. That’s where you make decisions around how you respond to people, even angry people who might be angry at you. Jesus says in the book of Matthew, if you open the door to a homeless person, if you give a cup of cold water in my name, then I am present,” she said. “So, for me, it’s about how I am in the world and how I strive to be God in the world – to be a representation of who Christ was in the world. And so, I try not always successfully, and more often than not, not successful at all, to bring Christ into every interaction I have with people ... always with kindness, always trying to give people hope for the future.” Looking to the future, Jenny’s professional goals for Social Services are that the Army will be a recognised advocate and bolder in its advocacy and better in the way it delivers our services. She also hopes anybody who “dares to put on The Salvation Army uniform” will actually participate in helping someone’s life be better – a theme highlighted in next week’s event. “I don’t want people to just say, ‘I’m a Salvo, and I go to the local church on Sunday’, but to say ‘I’m a Salvo, and on Tuesdays I go down and run the kids club’ so that they every Salvo knows that if you are a Salvationist, you’ve got a job to do,” Jenny said. “There’s work to do in the community.” Registrations are still open for the conference. Contact Major Jenny Begent at jenny.begent@salvationarmy.org.au or Linda Pollard: Linda.pollard@salvationarmy.org.au