Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas and Colonel Rodney Walters represented The Salvation Army at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday for the official launch of the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the 36th annual appeal, supported by Kmart Group Managing Director Ian Bailey, alongside Kmart’s founding charity partner, The Salvation Army. It was the first time Miriam and the Prime Minister had met in their current executive roles. “It was a wonderful day in Canberra celebrating our partnership with Kmart at the launch of the Christmas tree,” Miriam said. “We are grateful ... Aussies are good when times are tough. Thank you!” Rodney, Secretary for Communications, said he felt blessed and humbled to be part of the occasion. “[It was] such a wonderful opportunity to engage with our political leaders and their fantastic staff ... [and] Kmart and their fantastic team,” he said. The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is Australia’s largest and longest-running gift collection drive, raising over $5.6 million in funding and providing 10 million gifts to those in need at Christmas. In 2023, Kmart aims to raise over half a million dollars for the appeal and collect 300,000 gifts to help those in need. The Prime Minister said the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal was a reminder of the true spirit of Christmas, bringing joy into the lives of others. “The enduring strength and remarkable success of this appeal has always spoken for the generosity of the Australian people. I’m sure that this year, Australians will once again dig deep to support families who are doing it tough at Christmas. “This should be a magical time of year for children, and by supporting the Wishing Tree Appeal, you can help keep Christmas special. “If you can spare it, please give generously, knowing the presents you leave under your nearest Wishing Tree will be treasured on Christmas morning by those most in need.” As part of the launch, a Wishing Tree was placed in Parliament House, a ritual used for the past 11 years. All Parliament House visitors, Parliamentarians and staff, can leave an unwrapped gift under the tree. Kmart Group Managing Director Ian Bailey said he was proud not only of the 50,000 team members around Australia who proactively support the gift drive each Christmas through Kmart stores nationally, but also of the millions of Australians who visit Kmart stores at Christmas to drop off a gift. “As a large retailer, we want to make sure we’re actively giving back to communities in which we operate, and particularly the most vulnerable groups within our community. Through our partnership with The Salvation Army, this appeal has been able to help more Australian families have the Christmas they deserve. Bringing joy to our customers is what Kmart is about, and we are proud to partner with The Salvation Army to achieve that.” The Wishing Tree Appeal will run until Sunday 24 December. For more information, click here Some information in this article courtesy of Mirage News

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE Christmas is a time of anticipation. As soon as shopping centres and department stores roll out festive displays, children begin quivering with excitement at the thought of gifts to unwrap. Family WhatsApp chats fill with food ideas and discussions of logistics. Who has the best air-conditioning or pool to best host? Who will fly or drive in swarming heat this year? And in my opinion, what is perhaps the most important question of all – who is in charge of the ham? For Christians, we look forward to the candles and the nativity displays that remind us of Jesus, who entered a world of pain and risk as a vulnerable child to bring ultimate restoration. Joy-stealers However, events with great anticipation surrounding them are not always joyful. How do you feel when treatment options are running out and you suspect this Christmas may be your last? What about when the bank account is running low, and you feel a need to retreat from your excited children to grieve what you could have given them if circumstances were different? One pain I know all too well is the gaps at the table left by family dysfunction. When each year, you eat extravagant food with a lump in your throat, wishing things were different. Christmas is a reminder that not every wound can be healed with a sprig of mistletoe, and not every heart can be warmed with a particularly good eggnog. Sometimes, Christmas just hurts. “I wonder sometimes if our hurting souls spent more time at Christmas thinking on the circumstances of Jesus’ birth and the struggles of his mother, we might feel less alone in our own pain.” As anyone who has been pregnant will know, anticipating the birth of a child is not always happy either. Many parents harbour fears – about their child’s wellbeing, about their capacity to care for an infant, about the state of the world or the community into which they are bringing their child. For Mary, mother of Jesus, her fears may have been difficult to fully quantify. She was a young teenager, bearing a child with a man who was not the biological father. The government was unsafe, to say the least. In the end, she didn’t have a soft bed to birth in, or a warm inflatable pool to soothe her labour pains. Medical attention was not sophisticated or even readily available in a stable in Bethlehem. It was likely her, Joseph and some noisy animals. Talk about the makings of a traumatic birth story! Deep hope And yet, in her moment of deep need, she managed to birth the greatest source of hope the world has ever known. God’s plan is somehow providential, mysterious and confusing at the same time. I wonder sometimes if our hurting souls spent more time at Christmas thinking on the circumstances of Jesus’ birth and the struggles of his mother, we might feel less alone in our own pain. I love The Message Bible translation of Romans chapter 8, verses 22-25, which describes how, as we anticipate Jesus’ restoration of his creation, we feel pains like Mary did: “All around us, we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. This Christmas, I pray you can reflect on the God who sees, and the God who grieves alongside you. The God who is deeper than twinkling fairy lights, carols and perfectly wrapped gifts. The God of grit and grain, of manure and hope.

By LAUREN MARTIN With great excitement, Engadine Salvos Stores, in Sydney’s south, marked its first birthday recently, with Salvos from the store and the local corps coming together to celebrate and bless the local community. There was a buzz throughout the store that spilled out onto the street, with a Salvos coffee cart serving free coffee, kids being gifted lolly bags in-store and free doughnuts thanks to a generous donation from Woolworths in nearby Menai. The store in the heart of Engadine’s main street has been a popular shopping and community hub since it opened in 2022. Many shoppers are regulars and are known by volunteers, staff and Engadine Salvos Stores’ very own Salvation Army Mission Leader. Chez Wilson is a qualified caseworker who operates out of the Engadine Salvos Store to assist people in the community. Her role is to fulfil The Salvation Army’s four mission pillars – building healthy communities, working for justice, caring for people, and creating faith pathways. Over this past year, she has built relationships with volunteers, staff and customers at the store and in the local community with other not-for-profit organisations, local churches and businesses. “I see myself as a link between what The Salvation Army can offer as well as helping locals connect with other supports in the community. This could look like someone who is lonely coming in for a chat and a cup of coffee, someone who is in need of prayer, a new mum to the community looking for a playgroup or other women to connect with, or someone in addiction or escaping an abusive relationship, homeless or in need of financial assistance. “My role is to meet people where they are at, listen and respond to their need and connect them with the right help and supports either in the local community or in the wider LGA as appropriate.” Salvos Stores are integral to The Salvation Army’s work in Australia. They provide Australians with low-cost, quality second-hand clothing and household items and stop thousands of tonnes of unwanted goods from going to landfill. All profits from Salvos Stores go directly towards funding the mission work of The Salvation Army, such as assisting people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, poverty, and those rebuilding after natural disasters. They are also often the first point of contact that community members have with The Salvation Army. Mark Soper heads up The Salvation Army’s work across the Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney and says it makes sense to place a Mission Leader like Chez within a Salvos Store: “Our vision was to have a Salvation Army Mission Leader in every Salvation Army expression across the Sutherland Shire.” “We want people to know that wherever they see The Salvation Army red shield, they can find someone who can assist them with whatever hardship they may be facing. That assistance may be in the form of a referral to another Salvation Army or different partnering agency, it may be just that they need a listening ear and someone to support them, or we might be able to help them with food and other emergency assistance.” Salvation Army mission leaders are also situated at the Panania Salvos Store, Sutherland Salvos Store and Helensburgh Salvos Store. There is also a Mission Leader located at Shire Salvos Miranda and Shire Salvos Menai.

BY ANTHONY CASTLE After a decades-long journey, newly commissioned Lieutenant Leeanne Pattison can’t wait to begin her life as a Salvation Army officer. For the past two years, Leeanne has been a cadet with the Defenders of Justice session at Eva Burrows College and was commissioned on Friday 24 November at Adelaide City Salvos. She has been appointed to the Noarlunga Corps in Adelaide’s south and will take up her appointment in January 2024 as the Corps Officer. After working in ministry roles for many years, Leeanne became a candidate helper at City Salvos, then a cadet-in-appointment. “It was a process,” Leeanne says. “I was in my position at a corps for a couple of years, and I really felt that God wanted more of me. I considered a divisional role, and it didn’t feel right. I had struggled with this feeling for a while and talked with people about it. I was wrestling with something inside. I originally felt called [to officership] 20 years ago. There was a hurdle at the time, and I just stood back. I still did ministry roles, but I put officership on the back-burner.” Leeanne was a Children’s and Youth Assistant at Parafield Gardens Corps in Adelaide for five years before becoming a candidate helper at City Salvos. The role of candidate helper prepares someone for training and officership by experiencing the work firsthand. “The role of candidate helper was to work alongside the officers,” explains Leeanne. “I was doing sermons already in that space, learning the ins and outs of corps ministry, then coming to my time as a cadet there. Being in a corps setting really helps, with officers there to teach me the ropes. Overall, it’s been a good experience, being able to learn more on the job and see things you may not necessarily see.” The cadet-in-appointment role involves remote study rather than living on-site at Eva Burrows College. The role has pioneered new forms of learning that have become more standard since COVID-19 restrictions. “I had a day of designated classes I attended online,” explains Leeanne. “Two days a week at the corps and two study days. We also flew over about three times a year for orientation and intensives. It worked for me. As a single mum, I really needed to stay in Adelaide. You’re not with your session mates or your lecturers as much, but I still got to know my session well. You find different ways of connecting.” Growing up as the child of Salvation Army officers, Leeanne first considered officership decades earlier. While feeling called to ministry, Leeanne wasn’t initially sure if officership was the right path for her. “I had been through a really rough time, and I thought I was hearing wrong,” Leeanne says. “I thought, ‘I’m a mess, I can’t be an officer.’ I was at a real low point. I just pushed that aside and ended up studying community service, and then that led to my ministry roles. There’s been callings on the way, though, and I eventually got there.” “I think it’s important to follow God’s lead,” continues Leeanne. “I think it’s been about stepping into the unknown, even the challenges I know are going to happen. There’s strength in that. I think I will see – both in ministry positions but also personally – that God can use me. That’s the important thing, listening to God and stepping forward.”

BY CHLOE RICE The National Year of Prayer campaign launched on 29 October, giving Salvos across Australia the space to gather in prayer and connection. The aim behind this time is to focus prayer around the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter. Art has incredible power to express what we sometimes struggle to fully explain through words. As it is often said, one picture paints a thousand words, which is the case when we meet the artist behind the Year of Prayer designs, Laura Welsh, who depicts the different seasons in life’s journey. For 20 years, Laura has made an incredible mark on the art world through her journey of creativity, resilience and faith. From exhibitions to community involvement, Laura’s story is a testament to the transformative power of art. A life painted with seasons Laura’s journey as an artist reflects the various seasons in her life. She explains, “It’s funny I was asked to do this; I’ve been thinking about seasons quite a lot lately, just the different seasons in our lives.’” Her inspiration for the art is derived from the various seasons, not just in a literal sense but also in terms of her personal growth and life experiences. In her own words, Laura shares how art has been her constant companion throughout the different chapters of her life. “Art has helped me in these different seasons. I do not always know how I feel, but art has helped me to do that. It has helped me explain and understand my emotions.” Laura’s identity extends beyond her artistic endeavours. As a person with a disability, she is often seen for her wheelchair, but she aspires to be known for her art, her faith and her role as a child of God. “The wheelchair is just part of me ... it’s not a bad thing; it helps me get around, but it’s not what defines me.” A beautiful inspiration Growing up in Leongatha, a small town in Victoria’s Gippsland, Laura found her muse in the beauty of her hometown. From an early age, she was encouraged to explore her artistic talents, especially by having her stepdad as an art teacher at her school. Laura’s journey into the world of art was nurtured by both her family and her surroundings. Laura’s faith has played a significant role in her life. Growing up in the Church, Laura one day decided to try something different and ventured to The Salvation Army. In recent years, she has become more involved in the mission by becoming a soldier and taking on administrative work at Leongatha Doorways (an emergency relief and financial counselling service). “I have been given a lot of different opportunities that if I were an able-bodied person I wouldn’t have had.” Meeting different people through the various aspects of work, Laura shares her belief in the importance of being authentic and transparent with those around us, not always trying to paint a perfect picture, and sometimes needing to be honest about how you are feeling, especially during the different challenging times in life. Overcoming challenges Some of these challenges have included many surgeries and the ongoing battle with her health. “Put this way, I wasn’t meant to live very long; the nurses told my parents that I would not survive the first 48 hours. I’ve had 25 surgeries so far. It gets harder as you get older. It’s not something I thought I’d still be doing.” “I remember when I was 18, on the day of another surgery, I said, ‘Mum, no more,’ and she replied, ‘Laura, you know there will be more.’” Twenty-one years later, Laura is still undergoing surgery. During the operations, Laura sometimes questioned God but remained faithful to his goodness. “During a particular season, I grappled with my mental health to the point of stopping attending church.” Laura explained that she didn’t place blame on God but couldn’t help but ask him why. “Why was I struggling like this? Why wasn’t he fixing me? The idea of healing has always been a big question in my life as I’ve witnessed others being healed from different things.” Laura continued, “Yet I feel healed in my own way because I’ve learned to accept my situation. I might not have the same things as my sisters, like children or the ability to drive, but I’ve come to appreciate my life just the way it is. “I wouldn’t have learned what I have if I wasn’t sitting down ... he knows everything about us anyway.” A true testament to the faith she holds to navigate these hardships, a reminder to herself that God still and has always had a purpose for her life. In times of mental and physical struggle, Laura reflected that her family, including her mum, stepdad, brothers, and sisters with their children, provided a profound source of motivation. She cherishes the thought of seeing her loved ones grow and thrive. “I look at my nieces and nephews and think I really want to see them grow up; that’s really important to me, and I plan to be around for that.” Laura continued, “If that’s not God’s will, that’s okay; he’s given me a lot throughout my life. I have been given a lot of different opportunities that if I were an able-bodied person I wouldn’t have had.” Inspired by nature The beauty of nature, including landscapes like rain, the sky, mountains and flowers, significantly inspires Laura’s artwork. She finds it awe-inspiring how the world’s different tones of colour are created in natural scenery. Laura’s art often reflects the wonders of the world around her. Laura’s life has taught her the importance of perspective and gratitude. She appreciates the gift of sight and the ability to witness the world’s beauty. Laura’s story inspires us all, reminding us that through faith, we can navigate the seasons of life with grace and purpose. This reflects the heart and motivation behind The Salvation Army’s Year of Prayer. Join us in being a part of this time where we can experience #salvosprayingtogether. To find out all you need to know about our Year of Prayer, just click on the following links or copy and paste them 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 Melbourne Project 614 free cookbook, Meals to make ends meet, has been successful at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. The cookbook, compiled by Project 614 Hospitality Coordinator Adam Thomson, won the major award in the ‘Fundraising – Charity’ category for the Pacific region. “I’m super excited for our humble little book to officially be given the title ‘Best in the World’ at the Gourmand awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this week!” Adam said. “Massive thanks to Pressroom Partners and the entire team at Salvos 614. What a great result for the small army that helped get this book together.” More than 200 countries take part in the annual awards. Meals to make ends meet, launched in March, focuses on recipes based on everyday kitchen supplies but with additional tips to make the food budget go further. It includes suggestions on creating many variants from one basic recipe, basic chopping techniques, growing your own herbs, substituting ingredients if you don’t have something available, and minimising food waste. “It’s really encouraging to know that something we put together to help with a local issue here in Melbourne has initially been so well received on a national level and now has even impacted people on an international level,” Adam said. “We’re really proud of the book and what it stands for and are elated. “I’ve been a chef for over 20 years now, and the book is a small collection of tried and tested recipes I’ve collected along the way ... a great deal of which we serve from our café here at Project 614 in the Melbourne CBD. “I think the cookbook was very timely in regard to the economic climate that we’re currently living in, and as a result, a lot of people are feeling the pinch due to the rising cost of living in all areas.” The initial press run of 50,000 has now been distributed to Salvation Army centres around Australia, but a digital copy of the cookbook can be downloaded by clicking here

For most people, experiencing homelessness is something they will never face. The heartache of losing a home, the stress of the unknown, the feeling of being unsafe, the overwhelming confusion of accessing so many different services and the trauma of re-telling your story to different workers. These are just some of the many and varied experiences. LAUREN MARTIN reports The Salvation Army is one of the largest homelessness service providers in Australia. In years gone by, homelessness services would be located within what was then referred to as a ‘homelessness shelter’, or, if no crisis accommodation was available, in an office somewhere separate from corps and other services. But things are changing. In the NSW Hunter Valley, Salvation Army homelessness support workers can be found at corps, centres and even Employment Plus offices. And the collaboration is enabling more people in crisis to get the support they need – where they’re at and when they need it. Barrier to employment April Raw is the manager of the largest Employment Plus office in the country. Situated in Charlestown, Newcastle, she employs 14 staff members, including a caseworker and two part-time psychologists, to assist participants primarily struggling with long-term unemployment. When the number of people presenting to their office with homelessness as a major barrier to employment started rising dramatically earlier this year, April knew they needed help. “We specialise in employment, but we can’t consider that if people don’t have a stable shelter,” she said. “It’s not our responsibility to fix that problem, but it is our responsibility to refer them to other resources and support, but we were lacking in knowledge.” So, April reached out to Philippa Lewis, team leader of The Salvation Army’s homelessness services in the area. She was able to visit the site, chat with workers about what assistance is available and supply the service with backpack sleeping bags and toiletry items to provide for Employment Plus participants who are experiencing homelessness. Then she asked if it would be helpful if a Salvation Army homelessness caseworker were on-site at Employment Plus one day a week. It was a game-changer. Tracy Iles started working a half day every Wednesday, then quickly realised it wasn’t enough. Now, she’s stationed at Charlestown Employment Plus every Friday for a full day. E-Plus workers make appointments with participants experiencing homelessness on those days. Tracy has been instrumental in assisting them in getting access to emergency accommodation, advocating on their behalf with housing, and ensuring they have essentials like food, toiletries, and medications while transitioning. “We couldn’t live without her now!” April raves about Tracy. “She is super supportive and goes above and beyond.” She says working alongside a Salvation Army social mission expression on-site at Employment Plus has been hugely beneficial for both the staff and participants and would love to see more partnerships occur with corps or social mission to benefit the people that E-Plus walks alongside. Caseworkers make a home in every Salvation Army expression It’s that kind of partnership that the homelessness services team in the Hunter is forging across multiple Salvation Army services and faith expressions. Team Leader Philippa Lewis says team members can be found on various days at Newcastle, Raymond Terrace, Eastlakes and Cessnock Corps. “It’s so good that people in need can go to the corps because they know that it’s a safe place to go. There’s a sense of community and a sense of belonging – a space where they are not going to be judged. “And then a corps officer or a volunteer might say to them: ‘Do you want to have a chat with our homelessness case manager?’ and they think, ‘I’m safe here, so I can talk about my life.’ So, it works really well being co-located.” Eastlakes Corps Officer Auxiliary-Lieutenant Terri Muendel couldn’t agree more. “We’ve had homeless people sleeping in our corps backyard and in the carpark,” she says. “For so long, we desperately wanted to employ a homeless support person on staff, and then one day, the National homelessness team approached us and asked if we could house one of their workers in our centre for one day a week. “It was an answer to prayer!” Eastlakes Corps runs a café on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with a food pantry on Tuesdays and showers, washing machines and tea and coffee facilities available to people in need. “We have a number of people who are living in their cars, and they come here and do their washing and have a cuppa,” says Terri. “It’s so great to have a homelessness support worker to refer them to so that they can get the specialist support they need, whilst our corps staff and volunteers support them with kindness, food, a listening ear and invitations to the different programs that we offer.” One problem remains … Despite the great collaboration, the most glaring problem remains when it comes to homelessness on the Central Coast and Hunter regions of NSW – a severe shortage of housing. “People think that if they see a homelessness support worker, we will be able to get them a home,” says Philippa. “Believe me, I would love to. If I could, I would, for every single person. But it’s just so hard.” One gentleman she saw recently had been living in a tent for the past 12 months. However, despite the difficulties, the team perseveres. The Salvation Army is a faith-based organisation, and the Bible does say that God can move mountains. “Our team moves heaven and high earth to try and find a pathway out,” she says of the homelessness services team’s commitment to their ‘housing first’ approach to case management. “It doesn’t matter what a person’s barriers are – drug or alcohol issues, mental health issues, escaping domestic violence or coming out of prison, it doesn’t matter what their barrier is, we will house them, and then we look at everything else,” says Philippa. Because if a person hasn’t got a home, it’s very difficult for them to think, plan and act. So, the emphasis on ‘housing first’ is a priority. At Oasis Youth Services on the Central Coast, a homelessness case manager was recently able to assist two older teens who were experiencing domestic violence. “We put them into transitional housing, and whilst they work with Oasis case managers, we manage their housing. “One of them is now back at school, and the other has a licence and an apprenticeship, and they keep their home immaculate. It’s been such a great collaboration with the youth workers at Oasis.” There is always hope for housing, and The Salvation Army’s homelessness services team on the Central Coast/Hunter never gives up.

Kyiv Corps lights the candle of hope Despite the ongoing war, the onslaught of winter, constant air raid sirens, grief and weariness, the corps in Ukraine are focusing on the celebration of Christmas. Last Sunday 26 November, Ukraine divisional leaders Majors Irina and Konstantin Shvab, lit the first Advent candle – the candle of hope – at Kyiv’s Lighthouse Corps. Corps around the division are working to raise funds to buy little gifts for children, to provide food and warm clothing, and to hold Christmas services. Their regular ministries also continue, including Bible studies, Sunday school, youth groups, scouting, art therapy, and a range of classes. For Ukrainian officers, ‘regular’ ministries now include supporting people who have lost loved ones in the war, helping traumatised children and adults, and helping provide material needs for internally displaced people. General calls for prayers for Gaza The Salvation Army welcomes the news of the temporary ceasefire and release of some hostages in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Salvation Army prays for peace and the complete cessation of violence, and for the release of all remaining civilians who have been taken captive. General Lyndon Buckingham comments: “Our prayers continue to go out to all those affected by this, and other conflicts throughout our world. Especially, we pray for those who have lost loved ones or who have sustained injury themselves. “The Salvation Army is committed to peace-making and has a long-standing tradition of remaining neutral and non-partisan. As General, I call on Salvationists throughout the world to continue to pray for peace, to conscientiously pursue peace, and to equip themselves to become effective peacemakers.” A Tanzanian shopping experience with a difference From an unused strip of land to a thriving hub of commerce, The Salvation Army's Shukrani shops are changing lives in Mbeya, Tanzania. The vision behind the shops aimed not only to uplift the local community but also to make their training school more accessible to a low-income population. Residents in the local community were using the vacant land for informal roadside vending. They sold various items like cooking oil, flour, rice, and other groceries; offered services, and eked out a living amidst the unpredictable elements. The Salvation Army harnessed the potential of their training school students who embarked on a journey of community engagement and market research. They canvassed the area, spoke to the sellers about their needs and aspirations and discovered that these entrepreneurs craved legitimacy, security, and a proper selling space. However, they couldn’t afford new construction. This grassroots market research formed the foundation of the project, identifying a waiting list of sellers eager to have legitimate shops. With The Salvation Army World Service Office’s (SAWSO) funding, 10 shops with storage and bathrooms were constructed, exceeding initial expectations. The newly constructed shops were 100 per cent occupied from day one, and the local community rejoiced. The city even paved the street, signalling the dawn of legitimate business in the Shukrani shops precinct in Tanzania. The rent generated from these shops is expected to recover the initial investment in less than five years, all of which will support The Salvation Army training school. Plans are underway to replicate this success. The local government regulations now prohibit street vending, increasing the demand for rented shops. SAWSO is entering a second phase of the project, constructing six more shops to meet the growing demand for selling spaces. The Shukrani shops stand as a testament to the power of community engagement, innovative thinking, and The Salvation Army's commitment to making a difference. This venture has not only empowered local entrepreneurs but also created a sustainable source of income to support The Salvation Army’s mission in Tanzania, illuminating a path toward economic empowerment for years to come. A soccer field unites and empowers a community In the heart of Ecuador’s Guayaquil, unity prevails as community cooperatives come together to change their lives. A soccer field brings them together and powers their self-sufficiency. The city of Guayaquil in Ecuador's western region has witnessed The Salvation Army's unwavering presence for nearly four decades. It’s a difficult area where local communities have to grapple with issues such as gang activity, violence and drug-related problems. Many of them build houses wherever they can find land, even if it’s on an extreme slope of a hill. The concrete box homes are stacked on top of each other, with no formal streets, limited access to water and electricity, and little to no space for play. To address these concerns, a group of community cooperatives emerged, providing mutual support and advocating for change. Despite their persistent efforts, they remained largely unrecognised by formal authorities. Their surroundings resembled a concrete jungle, with no safe or suitable gathering place for the community. The Guayaquil Central Corps, located at the base of one of these informal settlements, began partnering with The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) to find ways to increase mission space and generate local income to support their community mission. The identified solution involved funding the clearing and levelling of a field at the base of the hill, addressing water runoff issues, and thus creating a soccer field that could be rented by the hour for games or activities, generating income that would fund their local programs and community assistance. Construction took months, and once completed, local Salvation Army officers reached out to the community to promote the soccer field. That’s when an unexpected impact took place: the various cooperatives asked permission to use the space simply to have group meetings where they could unite their efforts rather than compete for resources. By the mere change of having sufficient level space within walking distance for 30+ people to meet, they began to pool resources, invest in improvements, and take charge of their environment. They saw the field as their own and strived to enhance it. The impact was profound. The field had been operational for a year, becoming a hub for both sports and fellowship. It attracted a diverse crowd, including police, lawyers, transit officials, and government employees who came to play soccer. This provided community members with an opportunity to engage with these officials, fostering valuable partnerships and networking opportunities. One community member emphasised, “The Salvation Army invested in us and gave us the space we needed to become a community.”

BY CAPTAIN SANDRA PAWAR Violence against women and girls is something straight from the pit of hell. I don’t usually speak so strongly or use the word hell very often at all, but violence against females tries to destroy women’s self-esteem, sense of value, sense of safety, relationship with God and their very lives. I don’t know the stories you are carrying with you as you read this. I do know, though, that if you have experienced violence committed against you, it has affected the very core of who you are – how you have felt about yourself, how you perceived how others felt about you, and how you related to God. It left scars – some visible and some naked to the human eye, but painful just the same. To you today, I say I am sorry this happened to you; I am sorry you had to experience something so painful. As a victim-survivor of domestic violence, I want to say – I see you today, God sees you today. For those of you who may not have experienced the horror of violence committed against you, I say thank you God. I am glad that is not your story. Sadly, though, it is the story for so many women and girls around the world: • Gender-based violence is a global pandemic that affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. • Globally, around 736 million women are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner. • Intimate partner violence is the most common form suffered by women, with around 641 million affected globally. • Younger women remain particularly at risk of violence, with 1 in 4 women aged 15 to 24 suffering violence at the hands of an intimate partner by the time they reach their mid-twenties. • Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner. • In Australia, 1 in 6 women or 1.7 million women, have experienced physical violence at the hands of their partner. • In Australia, from 2021-2023, 3 in 10 assault hospitalisations were due to family and domestic violence. Each horrific statistic represents our sisters, daughters, aunts, grandmothers, mothers – they represent women with names, with families and friends and stories to tell. Women who are deeply valued and loved by God. Let’s just take some time to lament over what we just read. To lament is to acknowledge and respond to the pain happening around the world, in our nation, in our communities and in our families. Those statistics represent some deeply sad things, and I believe we must take time to mourn and grieve over them, to lament and bring them all before God. To cry out to God with our grief while also acknowledging his faithfulness. Pray with me as you read this prayer of lament: Hear us, Lord Jesus. We cry out just now for all your daughters around the world who have been victims of partner and family violence – Lord, bring healing and freedom. Hear us, Lord Jesus. We cry out for all your daughters who have been raped and abused – Lord, bring justice. Hear us, Lord Jesus. We cry out for your daughters who have been murdered and for those who grieve them – Lord, bring comfort. Hear us, Lord Jesus. We cry out just now for all your daughters around the world who have experienced deep shame, humiliation and thoughts of suicide because of what has happened to them – Lord, bring hope and peace. Bring healing. Bring freedom. Bring peace. Bring justice. Bring comfort. Bring hope. Amen. *Captain Sandra Pawar is an Australian Salvation Army officer (pastor) serving in the United States. For more information and resources, go to the MySalvos toolkit by clicking here If you or someone you know needs help, call 000 in case of emergency, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

BY LERISSE SMITH The ordination and commissioning of cadets is always a high point and much-anticipated event in the yearly calendar of The Salvation Army. But there’s one special and sacred event that few have the opportunity to witness before the public events that holds a deep and special meaning for cadets – Covenant Day. It’s the sacred step that precedes ordination and commissioning in the process of becoming a commissioned officer in The Salvation Army. “Covenant Day is a sacred occasion when each cadet signs their Officers Covenant before God,” said Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College. “In this moment, cadets are making a sacred agreement with God – they are accepting God’s call on their life, they are accepting a life of sacred service as a minister of the gospel in The Salvation Army.” Kylie further explained what happened in the week leading into Covenant Day. On the Tuesday, the Territorial Commander (TC) meets with the cadets being commissioned and talks through the Officer Undertakings so they are fully aware of what they are agreeing to and the spiritual nature of the relationship between them and The Salvation Army. The Officer Undertakings must be signed by each cadet prior to Covenant Day. On the Wednesday, the cadets and OFS team have a retreat day, where the significance of call and covenant is prayerfully considered. Covenant Day then takes place on the Thursday. All the cadets being commissioned gather with ongoing cadets, the officer formation staff and senior leaders in The Salvation Army. “It’s a very intimate, sacred and reflective space,” Kylie said. “The cadets make their covenant declarations and are invited to sign their covenant, which the TC and the Leader of Officer Formation sign in witness. Following the service, we share a meal together, then depart to prepare for the commissioning and ordination events.” After ordination, the newly commissioned officers participate in a five-year development program. They gather with their fellow officers for peer support and to reflect on their journey at the end of their first, third and fifth years. There are certain professional development requirements to complete within the five years, and at that point, if those requirements have been completed, they will receive a promotion from Lieutenant to Captain. Ongoing professional pastoral supervision is a requirement for officers and provides important support to new officers, providing a regular opportunity to de-brief, discuss challenges and joys, and review how they are integrating their learning with their ministry practice. When asked to describe a main challenge for the newly commissioned ministers, Kylie remarked it was getting their heads around all the systems of the Army, the procedures, processes and responsibilities. “Corps officership is challenging because of the multiple accountabilities that come with the role,” she said. “You are responsible for leading and developing a faith community, for equipping leaders and mentoring emerging leaders, for assisting community members needing emergency relief, for oversighting community programs, for developing relationships and partnerships in the local community, for line managing staff, oversighting volunteers, for keeping buildings and premises in good shape and managing all the risk and compliance landscape. “There are more things that could be added to the list - but you can see in that list the scope of responsibility and accountability. It can feel overwhelming to new officers commencing their first appointments because of the complexity of holding all those pieces and learning how all those pieces are in the flow of a week, month, or year in that location.” And one of the great joys? “The affirmation they receive on their commissioning,” Kylie said. “That The Salvation Army is saying to each of them - we believe in you! We recognise you as a minister of the gospel. We believe you can do this and that you are ready to step into your appointment.”

BY LERISSE SMITH Inspiring testimonies of lives radically transformed and amazing miracles birthed in prayer were key highlights of the Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Out of the Defenders of Justice and Reflectors of Holiness on the weekend. Cadets Edward and Beola Conteh (Defenders of Justice), David Delany (Reflectors of Holiness) and Vikki Song (Reflectors of Holiness) were all commissioned on Sunday at Auburn Corps with a special and moving service befitting such an occasion interspersed with powerful messages of support and encouragement. Cadet Leeanne Pattison (Defenders of Justice) was commissioned at Adelaide City Salvos last Friday. “This is such an exciting day for you,” Captain Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation, told the cadets on Sunday. “It’s been our privilege to walk alongside you. We are delighted you were able to experience this event in person surrounded by people that have loved you, encouraged you and supported you along the way.” Several other Salvationists spoke at the service, including Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett, Secretary for Personnel Lieut-Colonel Chris Reid and Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, who led the declaration of faith and doctrines, ordination and commissioning. Worship music by the Hurstville Songsters and Auburn Music Team also formed part of the event. A special feature of the Commissioning was a video compilation showcasing the cadets’ training during the past few years. For Lieutenant Vikki Song, who was commissioned on Sunday and introduced the video to the service attendees, the training was a transformative journey for her personal spiritual growth and theological competency. It also sharpened her tools for the ministry role. “It’s not only for the sake of shaping me into a minister but also for reshaping me from the very deep of knowing into a holistically healthy new self and being equipped into a capable servant leader of God,” Vikki said. “The formation allowed me to develop my leadership skills based on who I am, my gifts and strengths, as well as my weaknesses. I have been able to integrate my learning in many practical ways, such as how to maintain an ongoing relationship with God, how to reflect spiritually and theologically in both personal life and ministry matters, the theologies of what we do as The Salvation Army, why we do them, and how I can apply them into practice. “I have also been integrating the learnt skills into practice, such as preaching, pastoral care, healthy boundary settings, and relationship building.” Vikki also thanked and acknowledged the officer formation team of Kylie, Heather, Andrew and Sharon and how their love, dedication and commitment to the cadets’ training had blessed their journey so abundantly and created a nurturing environment for their growth. Kylie shared how, in the current training model, placement officers and supervising staff became training partners with the Officer Formation Stream at Eva Burrows College. The local placement officers provide cadets with a diverse range of learning opportunities and “act as our eyes and ears on the ground” she said. “They give us feedback on how they have experienced cadets, observing their maturity, their God, self, and others awareness, their ministry skills and capacities, and their openness to learning and growing.” Kylie added the cadets commissioned this year carried two sessional names – Reflectors of Holiness and Defenders of Justice. “Each of these names speaks to the experience of transformation and the development of Christ-like character, which, as they have discovered in their studies and practice, is neither easy nor quick!” Kylie spoke to the notion of justice as one of the meta themes of the Bible – as an attribute of God, its connection to righteousness, and how it is a mandate for the people of God to live by. “In exploring how Jesus approached justice, we discover that to love is to be just; to be just is to love. We also discover that to love sacrificially is costly,” she said. “Practising genuine justice requires us to enter directly into the darkness that exists in our world, and to be the light – and as the light in that darkness, to seek to bring healing and transformation, which pushes back the darkness. “That is a much more costly experience than the experience of someone only willing to advocate from afar ... to be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ requires courage. Our prayer for our newly commissioned officers is that they would be people of great love and people of great courage.” Miriam reflected on the incredible life journeys of the cadets at the service and some members of the Auburn congregation. “Talk to all these guys, and I believe in miracles, amazing stories,” she told the congregation. “I think there are about 44 nations represented in this church today, and a whole lot of good Aussies who loved people beautifully – that’s hope, isn’t it? That is hope. “It is exciting when hope is revealed. I love the two names – Reflectors of Holiness and Defenders of Justice. You have got to love Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit to go out into the world and be those defenders of justice. And so, we have this beautiful alliance, don’t we? People of God, we need you, whoever you are, whatever you are doing, to be a Jesus-centred, spirit-led, hope-revealed person.”

BY IHQ COMMUNICATIONS The Salvation Army stands against gender-based violence. At International Headquarters, we are observing the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Around the world, people will wear orange clothing, ribbons or badges to raise awareness of this social injustice. Today, we join our voices with the cries of many who call for the elimination of violence against women and girls. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. That is 30 per cent of women aged 15 and older. Committed to gender equity, we believe men and women, girls and boys are created in the image of God and should be valued equally. No one should be discriminated against because of their gender.