BY PETER MCGUIGAN As far as spectacular goes, nothing beats an ocean sunrise on a cloudless morning. Orange, pink and yellow hues in the sky herald a new day, and it’s not long before the sun peeks above the horizon, lighting up the Earth. As I write, I’m in the South Asian nation of Sri Lanka. For three consecutive mornings, I have watched the sun rise over the Bay of Bengal from Trincomalee on the country’s north-east coast. The night before the first morning, I checked what time the sun would rise – 5.50am! I made a point of being on the beach half an hour earlier to catch the early glow and first hints of colour as they began to show. The darkness and us There’s a saying that goes, “It’s always darkest before the dawn”, first penned by English theologian Thomas Fuller in 1650. The phrase is actually not true in the natural world. Often, it is darkest much earlier in the night when the sun is furthest from the horizon. The saying, like most, is a metaphor for life. It refers to dark times in our experience as human beings. Often, our deepest darknesses occur just before a flicker of light penetrates the darkness and fresh hope dawns. For Thomas Fuller, I have no doubt it was about the God who watches over us and loves us, never failing to come through just at the right time. The first Christmas was a classic case, and, as a believer in Jesus, I take heart from how the prophet Isaiah and Gospel writers have written about it amid dark times on planet Earth. At the time of Jesus’ birth, ancient Rome had annexed most of the known world for its own empire-expanding purposes. Nations’ freedoms, their right to self-government and autonomy had been curtailed. Their wealth had been pillaged, and their cultures and religions were challenged by colonisation. Yet 700 years prior, the prophet Isaiah, himself living amid dark times, announced, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; to those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned … For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah chapter 9, verses 2, 6). Light in the darkness The Gospels record the finer details of Jesus’ birth, each focusing on light bursting through darkness: “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him,” says Matthew’s account of the wise men from the east. They followed the star, and it stopped over the place where Jesus was born. “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (Matthew 2:1-12). “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,” says Luke’s account of shepherds in the field who were watching over their flock by night. “Do not be afraid,” the angel said to them. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke chapter 2, verses 9-12). “In him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind,” says the Gospel of John. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it … The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John chapter 1, verses 4, 5, 9). We need “the light” – something to believe in, something that far transcends our human myopia and distractedness and vulnerability to the darkness. Something with power to hold our focus, reach us deep within, and draw out from us all the good under the sun. Major Peter McGuigan is an Australian Salvation Army officer who has been appointed as Property Secretary (Primary Appt.) & Assistant Secretary for Business Administration for the Sri Lanka Territory

When Kylie Thomsen was aged just four, she was hit by a car while crossing the road – her little body broken from head to foot. It was to change her life forever. But tough times have been no deterrent for this extraordinary lady who has given more than 20 years of voluntary service to her beloved Salvos. With International Volunteer Day upon us, Salvos Online writer LERISSE SMITH chatted with Kylie about her love of helping others and why it gets her up every day. It was one fateful family day out with her parents that was to change the trajectory of Kylie’s life forever. With the sun shining and her mum grabbing much-awaited cuppas for both herself and her husband, little Kylie excitedly ran across the road to tell her dad his coffee was ready. But instead of fixing her eyes on the road, she gazed up to the neighbouring hillside. It was then Kylie’s life was to change in an instant. A car accidentally ran into her, resulting in not only a broken body but permanent brain damage, too. “It’s been life-altering as it stays with you for life,” Kylie reflected. “But I just push my sleeves up and get up each day to give a helping hand to others. It doesn’t matter what it is or where, if help is needed and I can do it, then I will do it.” And Kylie has indeed done it – many times over. Since becoming a volunteer at 28, Kylie has walked into the doors of The Salvation Army’s Bendigo Corps Community Services every week for more than 20 years and loved every minute of it. Her achievements span a long list. Kylie has undertaken a myriad of projects over the years – from helping to create special items for the Army’s church premises and assisting programs at the Community Services premises, including those connected with the NDIS, through to helping people at the coalface during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, she helped to create a large timber Christian cross, signifying the crucifixion of Jesus, which is a key feature at the Community Services’ waiting room, plus an eight-foot benchtop at its café. Pandemic assistance Another testament to Kylie’s love of serving people and her selflessness is driving the Army’s church bus on Sundays to pick up people coming to church and then dropping them home afterwards. One key volunteer mission Kylie fondly recalls was when she served the local Bendigo community members throughout the pandemic. Her tasks included assisting the local food pantry and chef with cooking community meals for locals struggling through the crisis. And when the floods hit the local region last year, Kylie and the team from Bendigo Emergency Services pumped up many bed mattresses for people unable to reside in their homes. Initially, there were no air compressors, quality pumps or any other items to help, so Kylie pumped up the mattresses with a little hand pump. “I felt really proud that I actually had done two beds on my own before they came in with an air compressor,” she said. “Many people were affected by the floods. I was driving our church bus to take people to the op shops to get clean clothes, plus caravan parks and hotels. I really went out on a limb to help them through being involved with the mobile cooking trucks, the emergency services and preparing meals as a lot of people were coming in that needed assistance.” So, why does Kylie volunteer? “I just want to help people and, you know, to feel better within myself, too,” she said. “And to know I have helped someone that day.” Where it all started Kylie’s foray into the volunteer world began around 2003 when she was undertaking a special woodworking program at the Community Services’ premises and mentioned to her supervisor at that time, Dave, that she wanted to work for the Salvos having been helped by the Army during various times of her life. Her overriding reason was that she wanted to give something back. “My exact words to Dave were ‘I want to do something for the Salvos’,” Kylie said. “I told Dave I didn’t want to work in the garden because that was too slack for me, and I was not brainy enough to go on the computers. So, I didn’t know where to go. Dave just then grinned at me and said, “How about you start here with me? “I then said, ‘But if I like it, you probably won't get rid of me.’ Dave had a bit of a chuckle – and yeah, I am still there today!” Many light and fun moments have also formed part of Kylie’s journey. She recollected helping out in the gardens, something she swore she would never do, and moving about 30 cubic metres of soil, plus erecting a steel frame for a shade mesh to go over the top of the vegetables. A further memorable moment was the time she ended up covered in grease after offering to clean ovens from the services’ café that were not working due to a build-up of oil and fat. Life-changing commitment Bendigo Community Services Manager Belinda Smith said Kylie’s contribution, commitment, and caring nature had been invaluable during her time at the Salvos. “To say she is part of the family would be an understatement,” Belinda said. “Kylie epitomises what we love to have in our volunteers. Her willingness to help others and preparedness to go above and beyond when asked is truly inspiring. We appreciate all that she does here at The Salvation Army, so this is a great opportunity to say thank you.” – Belinda Smith When Kylie started volunteering, she came to the services hub five days a week. She now has paid employment one day a week and attends two days, including assisting the Women’s Shed. Always accompanying her is Kylie’s beloved dog, Sebbi. “Volunteering and being at Community Services has really changed my life,” she said. “I have gone through a lot in my life with my upbringing and other stuff. I was really nervous and could not talk to people initially. But now I am able to talk to people and have a conversation with them. My main catchphrase is, ‘Hi mate, how are you going?’ and I like to walk alongside people and try to encourage people. “I’ve really enjoyed being a volunteer. To just be around people and to learn new things. And when something happens, you know, you can turn around and say, you know, I was a part of that.” Aside from volunteering, Kylie’s proud accomplishment is completing her Certificate 4 in Disability. And, in her spare time, she also loves to crochet blankets to assist the Salvos. So, what’s Kylie’s advice to anyone wanting to volunteer? It’s a simple one. “Give it a go,” she said. “Because you will get friends out of it, and it will be good. Knowing that I’m helping the community and knowing I am walking alongside people when they really need someone is a really good feeling.”

Whether we turn on the telly, glimpse social media or have a natter with our neighbour, there’s no escaping the hot topic of Australia’s housing crisis. It’s everywhere. But what is it like for those who work in the crisis homelessness sector? Salvos Online writer LERISSE SMITH spoke with Leah Farnham, North-east Victoria Youth Services Regional Manager, about the harsh realities of the accommodation crisis, the joys of working with resilient young people, her passion for hope – and collecting a great bunch of humans along the way. Celebrating every human who walks through the doors of The Salvation Army’s Northeast Victoria Youth Services is a top priority for Leah and her team. Chat with Leah about her work, young people and her staff, a “great bunch of humans” as she fondly describes them, and it becomes immediately apparent she’s greatly passionate about her role as the Regional Manager of the youth services team. She also calls it straight when describing the challenges of working in a sector. Dominated by a constant stream of news headlines about the accommodation crisis and the harsh fact that young adults aged from 16 to 25 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless simply cannot access the private rental market, Leah says it’s tough – and she feels for all those who work in the homelessness sector. “It’s super hard,” Leah emphasised. “Beyond hard.” But holding hope close at all times is the positive dominating force, a ‘big thing’ working in the homelessness sector, coupled with celebrating their little wins with the young people. “To have hope is so important,” Leah explained. “To keep morale up for your staff because they have to make tough decisions. They are not in it (the sector) to make those tough decisions, they’re in it to help people. So, it’s always going to be a challenge. They come into this sector because they want to make a difference, to make a change, and they have these hearts of gold. “It can be really demoralising for the staff, and so it is about making sure that we celebrate every human that we get in and every small win because we’re not getting those big wins. We are not into getting young people into the private rental market and not seeing that sustainable social housing outcome. “It’s really important to grow super passionate humans into our sector that understand what young people are going through.” “So, it is about, did they go to school today? Yes, they did. That’s fantastic! Did they learn how to cook a meal today? Absolutely, they did. That’s great! Our team and our team culture are just fantastic. I’ve collected such a great bunch of humans along the way. And they’re all so different and so quirky. But they all gel and get along really well. “If you don’t have that hope, then you’ll start to drown out the outcomes for young people. So, it is about how do we keep our staff safe? How do we make them feel supported and celebrated? I think that’s something that we really do well, and that’s what helps us generate really great outcomes for our young people. And I’m really excited about continuing that.” Family reconciliation The Youth Services program has a new family reconciliation pilot program that they are running alongside new accommodation in Shepparton, with one of the beds dedicated to family reconciliation. It is for young people experiencing interpersonal conflicts within the home, with a worker coming alongside the young person and family. On top of that, they hold the biggest contract in the Northeast for youth justice programs, plus have group conferencing, diversion and community support services and “a whole heap of stuff in that sphere” too. A key focus for Leah and her team is to engage the wider social work community services sector to see that working in homelessness is a positive and rewarding career. “It’s really important to grow super passionate humans into our sector that understand what young people are going through,” she said. “But also, that they, the staff, feel a sense of rapport with each other, so we can support and develop sector-wide responses and culture. “Secondary to that part is The Salvation Army itself. We have such great internal resources, and we’re lucky enough here in Shepparton; that our team at a state level are really working hard to look at transitional housing for young people out of accommodation and being able to be supported through the Mission support funding in order to look at other ways that young people can transition is really fantastic.” The other key component of the Youth Services’ focus is the young people themselves. “Our young people excite us the most,” Leah said. “It doesn’t matter how many young people we get through the door; it matters to us when we do get a young person, and what does that young person look like at the end of their journey? Have they gained something from their experience with us? “Young people have so much personality, joy, love and hope, and it truly is a joy to be at work and watch your team and your leaders engage with these young people and to see the joy on staff and young people’s faces when that happens.” “If I was to have a crystal ball and look at what would happen in five years time, if we can have staff that are engaged, happy, with a great culture, and we have young people achieving whatever goal that they need, and we have transitional housing – then that would be my goal.” New youth crisis accommodation facility opens in Shepparton. Click here to read the story.

BY PHIL INGLIS Every year I am a little cautious about throwing around the words “Merry Christmas”!  Or “Happy Christmas”, or “Happy Holidays”, or whatever! This year has been a tough one on a global scale. We were still recovering from the economic effects of the pandemic when Russia invaded Ukraine, with the resulting economic conditions causing widespread hardship. Climate has also contributed to the pain, with increasing temperatures giving rise to extreme weather events, leaving death and destruction across the world. This has meant that, for many of us, 2023 has been a difficult year. The cost of electricity, groceries and housing is going up like a rocket. Many have been unable to pay rent or afford the basics of existence. The demand for Salvation Army services has grown dramatically, and we expect this to continue as the economy continues to struggle.  Christmas is going to be very different for people this year. People are weary. Not tired, like we need an afternoon nap, but weary like we need a 6-month holiday. So, you can see that this year, I am even more cautious about saying “Merry Christmas”. And yet, my favourite Christmas carol is O Holy Night, and it has the line “The weary world rejoices.” What the heck? Why is it worth getting out a tree? Why is it worth putting on lights (that use expensive electricity)? Why is it worth going shopping for loved ones? Why is it worth gathering with family? Why is it worth going to church?  There’s just so much going on right now, so much is hard right now, why don’t I just fade into the weariness and forget Christmas this year? Why, in heaven’s name, would a weary world rejoice? “People are weary. Not tired, like we need an afternoon nap, but weary like we need a six-month holiday.” The unique spiritual truth of the Christmas story is that God, however we understand God, came to be one of us. Came and lived among us. This is not a particularly strange story.  Ancient mythology has lots of stories of gods like Zeus, Apollo and Thor coming to earth and having dealings with humanity. They fight battles for, with or against humanity, they lead, teach, build and do all sorts of things. They were ancient superheroes; they came alongside humanity … but they were different. They still stood apart and above humanity. Christmas says something different about Jesus. Jesus, the one we believe to be the one true God, was not like Thor – a superhero with a hammer and wrapped in a cape. Instead, he was a baby in a manger, wrapped in a cloth …  fully and completely immersed in human existence and experience – not standing separate and apart. “Why would a weary world rejoice?” The Bible says, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’ which is translated, ‘God with us’,” (Matthew chapter 1, verse 23). This truth should slowly transform our understanding of ourselves, God and the universe. Even when times are rough, hard, hurtful and frustrating – even when times are incredibly weary – God is present. God is not distant, unfeeling, unable to relate – God is down-to-earth, understanding and available. At Christmas, we don’t rejoice EVEN THOUGH we are weary; we rejoice exactly BECAUSE God knows about weariness and walks with us in empathy and understanding. We look forward with a little more love and hope, a little less anxiety and a little more joy. Major Phil Inglis is a Salvation Army officer (pastor) in Victoria.

The Salvation Army in Bulgaria, which officially opened this year, set up its first Christmas market last week – on a NATO base. As well as selling Christmas items to raise funds for its Christmas campaign, soldiers on the base can also purchase gifts for local children in need as part of The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree campaign. “The soldiers can help make the little Christmas dreams of these children come true,” said Captain Inna Lebedeva, divisional leader in Bulgaria. “We thank the NATO Social Work Department in Bulgaria, with which The Salvation Army has been cooperating here since 2021.” Bulgaria is part of the Eastern Europe Territory which also includes Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.

Overwhelmed by emptiness, Andrew pleaded for divine intervention. God, who had never left nor forsaken him, delivered Andrew in a powerful way. He recently told his story when being enrolled as a Senior Soldier at Coffs Harbour Corps (NSW). My life was far from glamorous. My childhood was not like any picture-perfect family. I witnessed struggles and conflicts that no kid should ever be witness to. I would lie in my bed each night pretending to be asleep, praying for all the pain to go away. The pain I felt couldn’t be expressed in words. Before long, I was taken away and placed in foster care. I felt lost and abandoned. I found solace in the quiet moments, gazing up at the night sky, wondering about my purpose in this life. Some years passed and I returned home. The next few years are as if they have been wiped from my memory. Though not raised in a religious household, I found myself at the age of eight, walking into a church by myself and sitting amongst the 300-plus people in the church pews listening to the words of God. Though I was riddled with the fear of anxiety in my life, I felt at peace. For the next few years, I found myself attending Sunday services, after-school kids’ Bible classes and doing the work of Jesus by helping the elderly and less fortunate through the church. As I grew older, I faced my own battles, grappling with feelings of loneliness and self-doubt. My troubles grew, and I found myself entangled in a web of bad choices. I sought solace in the wrong places, searching for meaning and purpose in all the wrong things. The allure of drugs and the subsequent pain they inflicted on my life consumed me. During these dark times, I resisted the call of God, turning away from my faith in search of solace elsewhere. It is in these moments of rebellion that I learned firsthand the perils of straying from the path of righteousness. Overwhelmed by the emptiness that consumed me, I found myself filled with self-hatred. Thoughts of suicide frequently crossed my mind as I struggled to find solace within the confines of my mundane existence. Every aspect of my everyday life no longer provided comfort. In a desperate attempt to awaken the dormant spirit within me and escape the emotional void, I began actively seeking out danger. Engaging in activities that others would avoid became my means of feeling something, anything at all. The adrenaline rush of taking risks became my only refuge. However, if it hadn’t been for divine intervention, on multiple occasions, I wouldn't be here today. These miraculous interventions, occurring at just the right moments, saved me from the brink of despair and allowed me to continue this journey called life. Filled with a desperate longing for guidance and redemption, I reached out, pleading for divine intervention. It was in this vulnerable moment of surrender that a transformative encounter unfolded before me, forever altering the trajectory of my life. The presence of divine grace enveloped me, embracing me with its ethereal touch, drawing me closer to the purpose for which I was created. Since that profound experience, my life has taken on a new meaning. It has ignited a spark within me, propelling me towards fulfilling the purpose I was meant to serve. The divine grace that washed over me continues to guide me on this spiritual journey, empowering me to make meaningful changes and seek a deeper connection with God. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted. A kind-hearted congregation – Coffs Harbour Salvation Army – welcomed me with open arms, offering love, acceptance and understanding. As I immersed myself in the teachings of the Bible, I began to rediscover the faith that had always resided within me. I found strength in prayer, guidance in Scripture, and solace in the fellowship of my new-found community. God’s grace renewed a sense of purpose and hope. With each passing day, my life transformed. I sought forgiveness for past mistakes, making amends and striving to live a life of integrity and kindness. My troubled past was not forgotten, but it no longer defined me. Instead, it served as a testament to the incredible power of redemption and the unwavering love of God. Throughout my journey, I acknowledge the immense impact of the people who have walked alongside me. I express a profound gratitude for the inspirational individuals who provided unwavering support, encouragement and guidance. These mentors, friends and fellow believers helped me navigate the trials and tribulations, reinforcing my faith and proving the power of community. No matter how lost we may feel, there is always a path to rediscover our true selves and find solace in the loving embrace of God. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 Paul tells us: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it”. Because of Jesus my heart is free.

I’ve seen lots of movies about Jesus, and I can’t recall which one it was (sorry), but there was one that opened with a bunch of men playing an ancient form of soccer. In look and dress, they appeared as men from Jesus’ era and were kicking around what looked to be a bunch of rags tied together. At one stage they get quite vigorous, and there’s a ‘stacks on’ moment as they fall on top of each other laughing. As the men stand up and start using names, it turns out that at the bottom of the stack is Jesus! It becomes apparent that on their wanderings from town to town, they’ve taken a rest break and played a game to amuse themselves. The scene shook me a little at first – it’s not biblical! – but then I thought: hang on, you’ve got a bunch of blokes travelling together, most in their 20s and 30s; every now and then they’re going to want to run off some energy and get competitive at the same time, and the scene made great sense to me. It also highlighted Jesus’ fully human nature – he liked playing footy with the boys! There are lots of moments in the Gospels when we read of Jesus and the disciples travelling together, and I wonder what they would have said. Jesus – Right, lads. Fifteen miles to go; let’s keep moving. Peter – Let’s run it and see who gets there first! Jesus – No, Peter. Just walk. Thomas – Why do we have to walk? Why don’t we have donkeys? Jesus – Walking is good, Thomas, it gives us time to think. Peter – I don’t want to think, I want to run! Andrew – How about you run, brother? We’ll walk. Peter – Yes! I’ll run. You walk. See ya suckers. [Peter runs off, at full speed.] Thomas – Are we there yet? Jesus – No, Thomas. Matthew – Isn’t this a toll road? I hate paying tolls. Why don’t we take the longer road and avoid the toll? Judas – We’ll just pay the toll. I’m sure there’s enough coins in the bag. Jesus – Are you sure there’s enough in there, Judas? Judas – Yes, I’m sure. Hey, have I ever let you down before? Thomas – Are we there yet? Jesus – No, Thomas. John – You old guys walk slow. Jesus – John, relax. You’ll be old one day. John – I can’t even imagine a time I’ll be that old. Can’t even picture it. Jesus – The day will come. What’s that dust cloud on the road ahead? [After a moment it becomes apparent what the dust cloud is as Peter returns to them all sweaty and puffing.] Peter – Right. Been there. Back. Now what? Judas – Do it again. Peter – Yes, I will! [Peter runs away again, still at full speed.] Thomas – Are we there yet? Jesus – No, Thomas. But we’ll be there soon. Thomas – Of course we will; never doubted it for a minute. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

As we again journey through the season of Advent, The Salvation Army International Headquarters (IHQ) has launched a free online devotional booklet by Captain Laura van Schaick, a writer for the daily devotional Words of Life. The booklet can be downloaded or read online here. “As we begin our Advent journey, we look towards the birth of Jesus and the hope that is promised as we wait for Jesus’ return,” writes Laura. “In these days between hope fulfilled and hope longed-for, may we recognise our role in bringing the light of hope to an often-dark world. “This year, as we journey through the Advent season, we will pause each week to again remind ourselves about the hope, peace, joy and love that can be ours because of the miracle of that first Christmas: Jesus moving into our neighbourhood.” Australian resources The Mission Resources team have created resources to assist with Advent worship services around the Australia Territory under the theme ‘Living With’. Week 1 is ‘Living with hope’. To access sermons, reflections and all social media assets head over to mySalvos Toolkit: https://tinyurl.com/27mnkmjj

BY ANTHONY CASTLE The Salvation Army is releasing new resources to encourage and equip Salvos to include people with disabilities more intentionally in faith communities and mission. Joseph Pinkard is The Salvation Army’s national Disability Inclusion Lead, starting in August last year, and he began in the role by considering a new approach to resourcing. “Over the last year, I spent considerable time listening to Salvos living with disability, corps leaders and reviewing the existing disability inclusion resources. I felt there was scope to do something amplifying the lived experiences of people and their carers and exploring biblical perspectives on disability too. The lived experience of disability is so broad. Visible and invisible disabilities, people who are born with a disability and those who acquire them, to those who live with multiple disabilities. Bringing together a diverse range of perspectives provides a fuller picture than you would normally get from just one person writing all the devotionals.” The devotional is aimed at individuals exploring the topic of disability inclusion in a diverse range of Salvo mission expressions. Belonging and becoming is an accessible digital devotional featuring seven reflections contributed by Salvos with a lived experience or a personal connection to disability. “Scripture was written over a period of time thousands of years ago, and its perspectives on disability somewhat align with our understanding today and somewhat differ as well,” Joseph explains. “The Bible is central to our faith; there’s no reason to shy away from it when it comes to disability, but we do need to approach with an openness regarding what’s being said and what we interpret about disability.” The Salvation Army’s focus on disability inclusion is about creating mission expressions where people with disabilities experience welcome and belonging, ensuring equitable opportunities to engage with mission.Themes of disability and inclusion feature throughout Scripture, from commands around community support, ritualistic instructions, poetry, and the miracle stories. For those with a disability, the relationship with the biblical narrative can be liberating or fraught, depending on how it is interpreted. “There are stories in the New Testament where Jesus is healing people with disability,” Joseph explains. “Think of the story of the man born blind in John. That passage explores the question, ‘Why does disability happen?’ Is it something that’s caused by sin? We need to create spaces to engage with these stories, to consider their connotations and to wrestle with it. Particularly regarding questions of healing. What does healing actually mean for a person living with a disability? Some people living with disability may not even want to be healed in the sense we assume they might.” Belonging and becoming approaches these Scripture stories with a lived experience of disability to hear what personal perspectives can share on the passages. Each devotion focuses on a different aspect of disability inclusion and features a biblical perspective, reflection questions and a prayer. “The Salvation Army is an organisation with an enormous connection to disability,” Joseph explains. “The amount of people who live with disabilities, have a family member with a disability, or a connection to disability is huge. Disability runs through all our streams and mission expressions. It surprised me how many people have a connection to disability.” The Disability Inclusion Toolkit on mySalvos features a range of other resources, including a Disability Inclusion Checklist to help local mission expressions reflect on their local context, a Disability Inclusion Discipleship Study that can be used by small groups or individuals, and a Disability Inclusion Language Guide. Other materials include assets for Neurodiverse Discipleship Groups, Auslan Interpreter Services and Fees, and a guide to celebrating International Day of People with Disability. “If we don’t get this right, people get excluded,” Joseph explains. “They develop a view of the Church that isn’t as welcoming as it wants to be. That’s sad. Everyone is part of God’s Kingdom, including people with disabilities, which is what we see in Jesus’ parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14. Everyone had a role to play, everyone is a part of the body, as we read in 1 Corinthians 12. When we get it wrong and don’t include people with disability to serve and participate, we lose part of the body of the Christ.” Belonging and becoming will be available in a range of delivery methods so different people can engage with it according to their needs, and is now available for download from the Disability Inclusion Toolkit on mySalvos.

As we celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Major Sue Davies shares her story of the hard days, the good days, and most of all how holding onto Scripture has been her lifeline. She reminds us that God has fearfully and wonderfully made his people and that people with disabilities have wonderful gifts to share.

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? Presently, I have three roles, all of which I enjoy and find fulfilling. Along with my wife, Sharon, I am now in my eighth year of being Area Officer for the Brisbane City, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and South Burnett regions. At the beginning of 2023, I was appointed as Assistant Divisional Commander for Queensland. My third role is Coordinator for INSPIRE, which is a spiritual leadership development journey for officers and employed Salvation Army mission leaders. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? While my roles do keep me well occupied, I strongly believe that to see effective work outcomes, one needs to balance work with time off to relax and unwind. If the wind and tides are right, I go fishing or bike riding. If not, we might watch a good movie or go for a drive. I also love a good coffee! 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? Good question. Don’t know if I have any real favourites, but over the past year, the songs I Speak Jesus and The Goodness of God have been significant to me for different reasons. 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? As with many others, I would like to have a conversation with Paul. While he has a great transformation story and great theological knowledge, he was also one who personally struggled at times. Even though he experienced both personal challenges and persecution from those who should have known better, he remained steadfast to the calling on his life and his personal relationship with God. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? There is no doubt that officership is not for everyone. In saying that, I can’t think of one appointment over the past 37 years where I have not found fulfilment. That’s not saying everything has been easy. Sharon and I have had to work through with God some very challenging times, but overall we have been to places, had a myriad of experiences, and seen God at work in many ways that we may not have experienced if we had chosen a different path.

On 1 December 2018, The Salvation Army in Australia officially became one national territory to enhance mission opportunities and to impact more Australians with the love of Jesus. When the Australia One project commenced, we knew it would be a journey of ongoing change. Although this has not been easy, the benefit of a united voice, shared vision, stronger partnerships and improved stewardship does give us a reason to celebrate and be inspired by what lies ahead.