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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS) in Australia has long had a special relationship with the Australian Defence Force, offering practical, emotional and spiritual support in difficult situations, times of grief, and in everyday life. Major Kenneth Delamore, RSDS Officer in Charge and Senior Representative, says the importance of a listening ear cannot be underestimated, with the Sallyman and Sallyma’am’s presence boosting morale and bringing hope. In Canberra, Major Kenneth and Joanne Delamore provide a valuable ministry at The Royal Military College, Duntroon.

Session: Reflectors of Holiness From: Auburn Corps (NSW) Appointed to: Corps Officer at Hurstville Corps (NSW) Silver Star recipients: Mrs Daphne Delany. Major Nesan Kistan Academic award: Certificate of Salvation Army Officer Training Diploma of Theology As I reflect on my journey to officership, it all began when I arrived at Sydney Airport on 3 December 2009. I vividly recall when Major Nesan Kistan heard me sing and thank God at the airport. Afterwards, he approached me and said, “I believe you are a Man of God. I would love for you to come to church on Sunday, dressed just as you are, and perform the same song during the meeting.” On Sunday 6 December 2009, I attended the church and was allowed to participate in the meeting. The meeting concluded, and on Monday, my uncle brought me to Major Nesan’s office at Auburn. We engaged in a lengthy conversation, during which he began to encourage me to sit with him at the front in every meeting. While studying accounting and finance at Granville TAFE, I also engaged in a two-day voluntary job as an all-rounder at Auburn Salvos. By the time I completed my accounting course, I was granted the opportunity to work as a ministry assistant there. During this time, I acquired and developed new skills related to ministry in Australian culture, all under the leadership of Majors Nesan and Cheryl Kistan. Coming to the Officer Formation Stream, my ITO, LPO, lecturers and colleagues have all played a significant role in shaping, guiding, leading, challenging and creating opportunities for me to learn and unlearn. These experiences have contributed to my growth and a deeper understanding of God, others and myself. I now possess a profound sense of leadership, spiritual formation and a greater understanding of my identity. I give all the praise, glory and honour to God for how far he has brought me, and I willingly hand over this incredible journey ahead of me and my family, knowing that God is the author and finisher of our faith. Bible verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

BY MAJOR BRENDA YOUNG* “How many do you think will come?” “Do you think people even want this kind of thing anymore?” These were some of the questions being asked as we considered the possibility of a divisional gathering in Victoria. In a leap of faith, we decided to go for it and booked a venue with a seating capacity of 1200 people. And then we started praying, hoping and praying that people would get on board and come along. To our delight, more than 1000 people did come along, and we had the most amazing time of worship and fellowship, sharing plans and hopes for the future. Over 150 children were present and engaged in worship with us. Having been greeted at the door by Cousin Koala, lots of bubbles and a team of the most wonderful children’s leaders, each child received a showbag that included activities relevant to the day’s theme. It really was an event for all generations. Recasting the Net has been our divisional theme for over 12 months as we continue exploring new ways of being the church in our communities. We were inspired by our divisional leader, Colonel Kelvin Merrett, and each of the area officers as they presented a compelling image of hope for the future. We sang our hearts out as the worship team, comprised of people from across different corps in the division, led us in song. We delighted in the prayers and participation of our children and youth. We celebrated diversity with translation services being offered to some of our non-English speaking participants and Auslan interpreters being present for those with hearing impairments. We shared our boxed lunches – yes, all 1000 of us! We were encouraged by Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, who brought us a courageous message about Jesus and how the walls of the temple or synagogue did not confine him. But most of all, we were blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit, who moved us, opened our hearts and affirmed our sincere hopes and desires for the Victorian Division of The Salvation Army. In a beautifully uninhibited way, people came forward and gathered to pray with and for each other. “How many do you think will come?” The answer? Many, many will come. “Do you think people even want this kind of thing anymore?” Yes … yes, they do! Because we are better together, and wherever we gather, whether in a crowd of 1000 or a tiny group of two or three, there also is our God! *Major Brenda Young is the Assistant Divisional Commander for Victoria Click on slideshow below to see more photos of the event:

BY JENNIFER KIRKALDY In the family and domestic violence service sector, we talk about a person who experiences family violence as a ‘victim-survivor’. It’s an awkward phrase, and it’s not perfect, but it captures how two things can be true simultaneously. Family violence is a crime. Those who experience it are victims. But each of these people is so much more than a victim. They have a life, a personality, a presence outside and beyond what has happened to them. In the moment, being a victim of family violence can seem all-encompassing and inescapable – but that does not need to be the case. So, we also talk about survivors. We focus on these things happening to a person, but those acts do not define them. It is something they are going through, but it is only one part of their story. Family violence is traumatic, it takes a long time to recover. It is a thing to be survived – it can be survived. The great tragedy of the 53 women who have died this year is that the world only knows one small part of their story. Though the people who knew them and loved them know there was so much more, in the public conversation, their victimhood is permanent. It’s the people around them who are survivors. Last year, the Salvos alone helped over 10,000 people escape violence. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 3.8 million Australians have experienced family violence since the age of 15 – around 27 per cent of all women. Statistically, someone you know is in that number. Which means, statistically, someone you know is perpetrating family violence. It is so easy to feel powerless in the face of the enormity of this issue. When we look at the drivers of family violence, it can feel overwhelming to try to dismantle embedded social, economic and legal systems that perpetuate family violence. And we need to dismantle those systems but just for a moment, let’s focus on the people you know. If you don’t know someone perpetrating family violence, someone in your circle does – and that means you have more power than you think. It means you can make a positive difference right now. Right now, you can call out behaviour that minimises or excuses violence within our families, schools and workplaces. Ask people to explain why that joke is funny. Make it clear you are not interested in victim-shaming. Right now, you can make sure you are a safe space for victim-survivors to reach out. It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what to say or what to do – demonstrate that you believe them and that you are on their side. Then, if they are ready, there’s a range of people who do know what to do, and you can help them reach out. Right now, if you see something, you can say something. Sometimes intervening can make a situation more dangerous for the victim-survivor, so it’s natural to feel scared to act, but there are people who can help and advise you. And if someone is in immediate danger, call the police. Don’t worry if it turns out to be a false alarm. If you are worried it will make neighbourly relations awkward, the police won’t tell them who made the call, and you might just save someone’s life. There are a lot of structural things we need to do to address family violence. We need to fix gender equality and attitudes toward women. We need to reform our welfare system so victim-survivors are not choosing between abuse and poverty. We need to adequately fund our family violence sector so we can help every single person who reaches out and focus on early intervention. We need to do all these things. But while doing them, we also need to take action personally. There have been 53 women this year alone who never got to be survivors. At the current rate, that number will reach 58 by the end of the year. We can’t let that happen. Jennifer Kirkaldy is the Salvation Army’s General Manager, Policy and Advocacy

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Salvos choir climbed the iconic bridge to kick-start The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal with Channel 7’s Sunrise on Monday 20 November. On the climb, choir members not only sang carols but also shared the importance of this year’s appeal for families in need. Across the country, the appeal aims to raise $25 million so the dedicated local teams can continue to provide vital services and support to the growing number of Australians in crisis. No matter how much you give today, your kindness will bring hope and joy to someone or a family struggling alone this Christmas. To donate, click here.