As Publications Manager, Cheryl Tinker oversees all Salvation Army online and print publications, including Salvos Magazine, Kidzone magazine and Salvos Online. After recently celebrating a milestone of 25 years of service with the Salvos Publications team, we sat down with Cheryl to explore her beginnings, chat about her achievements, and discuss how our publications have evolved. By MATT ALLENSBY* Cheryl was born in Tasmania, and as her parents are Salvation Army officers, she enjoyed an upbringing in the Army, travelling to many corps across Australia before settling in Victoria. With a passion for art, Cheryl pursued a tertiary education in fine arts, but after meeting her husband and starting a family, she said her responsibilities “took life in a different direction”. “But in 1986, an opportunity came up at the Salvos’ Weeroona Hostel, so I started working there.” In her time at the Weeroona, Cheryl undertook a variety of responsibilities, starting in an admin position before moving into an ‘activities coordinator’ role and then becoming the hostel’s ‘afternoon supervisor’. Fortunately, Cheryl’s fine arts background was well utilised. “I organised painting classes, attended expos and events, and used my art in things like that,” she said. “While I was there, I also did some freelance work for The Salvation Army’s Women’s Ministry – painting murals and designing brochures, etc., so I was still able to use my skills in that area.” After 11 years at Weeroona, Cheryl decided to broaden her horizons and pursue opportunities outside the Salvos, starting a new role at Monash Gardens Hostel as an afternoon supervisor. However, Cheryl soon found herself being called back to the Army. “When I look back now, I realise God was with me, guiding me the whole way – the Army was where I was meant to be,” she chuckled. “I was working [at Monash Gardens] about six months when I got a call from Colonel Pam Trigg, asking me to come and see her,” Cheryl recalled. “I sat down with Pam and Major Leanne Ruthven, and they were talking to me about a job they had that they thought I’d be perfect for. “I loved it from day one. I really felt like it was my calling.” “Pam was a visionary with a real love for children, and she and Leanne were wanting to revamp The Salvation Army’s Young Soldier publication,” Cheryl explained, not knowing Young Soldier was about to embark on a long journey to become the well-loved Kidzone magazine that all Salvos know today. Cheryl was offered the job of an editorial assistant and started immediately. “I loved it from day one. I really felt like it was my calling,” she said. “Pam and Leanne gave me creative freedom, always encouraging me along the way.” Starting as a team of two, Cheryl recalled how the team slowly grew over time. “As new computer programs and technology were introduced, we all learned and grew together into a strong team.” Reminiscing on the different roles she has had in the publications department and the evolution of Salvos publications over the years, Cheryl highlighted the development of Kidzone as one of her biggest achievements during her 25 years of service. Today’s Kidzone originated from Young Soldier, an A4 magazine printed in black and white. It has transitioned into a vibrant, full-colour publication read by around 27,530 children a week and supported by its website. Cheryl also reflected on the relationships the Publications team built with others along the way. “The biggest thing for me in that process, aside from learning new technologies, was the relationships we formed,” she said. “And this continues today. We tell people’s stories, and so we engage with many different departments and people internally and externally. Having the privilege to meet, work and build strong relationships with so many people over the past 25 years has been the most enjoyable part of my role and I would say the main reason for my longevity.” Cheryl acknowledged the professionalism of the whole publications team. “As a team, we have always embraced change and technological advances enabling us to continue to evolve, but our greatest strength is that we know who we are and why we do what we do, and we do it well together – our mission is God’s mission.” The team’s collaborative efforts have led to the development of many successful Jesus-centred publications today. These include Salvos Magazine, which has over 26,400 weekly readers, Kidzone, which has more than 27,000 readers, and the recently launched Salvos Online website, which boasts over 28,000 page views a month. To learn more about other Salvos publications, check out the Publications and Resources page on The Salvation Army website. *Matt Allensby is Internal Communications Advisor for The Salvation Army

When Mario came to the Salvos, he was broken and without hope. Now he’s thriving. He shared his story of redemption with Salvos Online reporter LAUREN MARTIN I came here broken two years ago [to Shire Salvos Miranda Food Relief and Assistance Centre in southern Sydney.] I was heavily drinking and heavily using drugs. I was in a lot of depression, anxiety and stress. I was having suicidal thoughts. I found Shire Salvos Miranda because I rang Lifeline. I was so broken, I was in tears, I had given up on life. I had recently separated from my partner, who had found out that I was using drugs, so she didn’t want a bar of that. I was also in the process of being evicted, so I was very close to being homeless. I came from a good, hardworking family, but I had broken all bridges with my father and brother because I had abused them so much. I was blaming everyone else [for my problems]. I remember being in line [for a Salvation Army food hamper] when a Salvation Army Moneycare financial counsellor came and spoke to me. She said, “I haven’t seen you here before”, and I just broke down in tears. She brought me inside [to the office] and said, “It’s going to be OK”, and she introduced me to some staff members. They made me feel really welcome and made me feel safe. There was either death or change for me. I was that broken. I always knew I was a better person. I knew I was a good person and had a good heart, but I was obsessed with depression and stress. I got exhausted from that lifestyle and didn’t want to do that anymore. I wanted a better life. I then met with a Salvos AOD [Alcohol and Others Drugs] worker and pretty much surrendered in her office. I told her everything. She mentioned going to rehab [Recovery Services] and spoke to me about a couple of them. The Salvation Army’s William Booth House was the first one she mentioned, but I didn’t want to be around that area in the city. I explained that I’m a Cancerian – I like parks, rivers, and the outdoors. She told me about a place at Callum Park in Sydney called WHOs (We Help Ourselves). I got a place and was there for three and a half months. I didn’t know what to expect. What I did know was that I needed help and guidance. It took a while for me to become teachable because I had all that ego and addiction. Slowly, I started becoming vulnerable. And listening – shutting up and listening. Then I could learn. I’m now 16 months sober. My life is amazing right now. I am discovering the person I’m meant to be. I feel that God’s called me ... he’s grabbed me and said, “I need you to help others.” I’m at peace now. I’m not in my head anymore. The fog has lifted, and I’m clearer. I hold myself responsible for my actions, and I do the next right thing. I don’t associate with anyone I knew prior to rehab. I have made great new friends. I walk every morning and go to an AA meeting every night. I’ve set some goals. My plans are to do service and help anyone I can. I decided to do a community services certificate at TAFE, and they said you have to do some work placement. And I thought, “Why not Shire Salvos Miranda?”. I’ll never forget this place – this is where the miracle started for me. I’ve made amends with my mum and my father. I now have the best relationship ever with my brother and my mum and father. I owe my life to the people here at The Salvation Army who gave me hope. This is where I came when I was broken. You have to be broken in order to be healed.

Australians around the country will honour Remembrance Day today (11 November). Salvos Online spoke to retired Salvation Army officers Colonels Julie and Kelvin Alley about their current roles as RSL chaplains and their personal link to the Australian Defence Force. What does Remembrance Day mean to you both? For Julie and I, it is a very significant day when we have the opportunity to pause, reflect and express gratitude for those of our nation who have given their lives in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Historically, it is the day we commemorate the end of the First World War, but over the years, it has come to be the opportunity to remember those who have served our nation in all theatres of world conflicts. Do you think the day is being almost forgotten in Australia, and why is it important that we continue to recognise it? It is certainly not almost forgotten, but perhaps it doesn’t get the same media attention as, say Anzac Day. For us, it remains just as significant because of our close involvement and participation every year in Remembrance Day services. The day is not a public holiday as in the case of Anzac Day, which doesn’t give the general public the same sense of awareness or opportunity for involvement. The RSL clubs continue to liaise with schools in order to maintain awareness amongst our younger generations of the importance of this day. You and Julie are chaplains to the local RSL – why do you do this? What does this role entail, and what impact does it have – on yourselves as well as those you minister to? When we retired just over three years ago, we were asked if we would accept this role with the Runaway Bay RSL Sub-Branch, which has had a very long association with the Gold Coast Temple Corps. We attend the monthly meeting of the club members, slowly getting to know the members more personally. Julie also attends the ladies’ luncheon each month, building relationships with each of the women. We preside as ‘padre’ at the significant commemoration services each year, which include two Anzac Day services and Remembrance Day, and numerous other special occasions. We have had the privilege of conducting funerals for deceased members, and related remembrance occasions. We also arrange an annual ‘Church Parade’ where we encourage as many club members and families as possible to attend a special service at our corps. For us, this is an honour and privilege, to support those who have served in our nation’s uniform. What are some of the challenges returned servicemen and women face? The members of the RSL club tend to be older, those who have served in World War Two, Korea and Vietnam conflicts, or who have given service in the forces over those same decades. They face the challenges of ageing, of health struggles and even mobility issues. Those who have served in more recent decades face significant challenges in the transition from service life to lives as civilians. These can range from emotional struggles due to traumatic experiences, finding and maintaining suitable employment, maintaining relationships, especially marriage, homelessness, substance abuse and gambling issues. Kelvin, can you tell us about your cycling trips that fundraise for returned personnel – again, why you do this and the impact these donations have? Since 2006, I have been part of the ‘Pollie Pedal’ (an annual bike ride of 1000km over eight days, started by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 1998 as a means of getting politicians out and doing something active to benefit the community. Each year, the Pollie Pedal raises huge sums for charity, which over the years now total many millions of dollars. For the past five years, we have supported the charity ‘Soldier On’, which supports veterans and their families. This year, we will be riding for ‘Wandering Warriors’, a smaller charity that supports veterans and families of our Special Forces. The ride will start in Perth. In 2021, the Pollie Pedal was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, so I decided to have my own ‘Solo Pollie Pedal’ – I rode 1500km self-supported through the Darling Downs and Central Queensland, and raised $10,500 from 105 wonderful sponsors! In recent weeks, I did a similar ride, raising almost $1500 for Wandering Warriors. How can Australians help support both serving and returning members of the Australian Defence Force? Julie and I would encourage all Australians to show their support for the special commemorative days each year – to turn out in force for Anzac Services, and other services such as Remembrance Day. The RSL goes public twice annually with sales of poppies and other commemorative items such as badges. The public is encouraged to support these as much as possible. Older generations can encourage the younger generations to continue the respect and honour that has been given in past generations and to be sensitive to the unique and challenging circumstances that are involved in service in our defence forces. Do you have a personal connection to the ADF? Our son is a triple veteran of ADF service in Afghanistan. As parents, we have experienced the emotions when a son is sent overseas to dangerous war zones for his tours of duty. We have experienced those moments when news comes over the radio of another ‘incident’ involving an ADF member, and the long wait, not knowing whether it is our son. We know that moment of relief when we have it confirmed that it is not our son, but then the realisation hits that it is indeed the son of other parents. Tears then flow anyway.

BY MAJOR PHIL INGLIS We live in a world that seems obsessed with standards. When you go for a job, you must meet certain ‘eligibility criteria’ standards. When you apply for entry into a selective high school or some university courses, you must sit for some exams to see if you are up to a certain standard. If you want to join a professional music group, you generally have to audition to see if you are up to the standard required to play in the orchestra or sing in the choir. When you meet your girlfriend’s father for the first time, he will attempt to gauge whether you are up to his standard. When you join a sports team or almost anything else, you must live up to a certain standard. Many times in life, we see opportunities and improvements offered to people who meet these standards. I met the standards of my father-in-law (eventually) and was given permission to marry the greatest blessing of my life. A friend of mine was able to live up to the standards required for a Master of Education degree and was given a promotion as a result. Another friend was able to play a high standard of rugby league, was invited to play on a semi-professional team, and now gets paid to play. We are so conditioned to think this way that we sometimes think that God operates in the same way. We are tempted to think we can only receive God’s blessing, attention or acceptance when we meet a certain standard. Banners and flags However, another definition of the word ‘standard’ is a banner or flag. Particularly, a ‘standard’ is a banner or flag used to identify someone or a group of people. In a military parade, a ‘standard’ is carried at the front of a group to identify them. In The Salvation Army, we have flags that identify which part of the Salvos you’re a part of. In a throne room or banquet hall, standards are hung to identify those who sit beneath them. In a very poetic part of the Bible, God’s love for us has been described as a banner, or a standard, being flown above us to identify us as people who are loved by God (Song of Solomon 2:4). “You will never live up to a perfect standard, but you can live beneath one.” So, while the Bible does teach us that, in the words of the great philosopher Hannah Montana, Nobody’s Perfect, that’s not where it ends. Sure, we are not perfect, but God already loves us, and what he did for us proves it. We simply need to accept the love of God; simply sit beneath the banner of love flown for us by Jesus. In other words – you will never live up to a perfect standard, but you can live beneath one.

I’m aware that, internationally, there are still some Booths involved in The Salvation Army and in officership; and not just any Booths but living descendants of our founders, William and Catherine Booth. It must be hard, at times, to carry that surname in the Army. I worry that any Booths will be held to some sort of higher Christian standards than the rest of us – “Well, I wouldn’t have expected that of a Booth!” Of course, there are many other large families in The Salvation Army, where generations of Salvationists of one clan have become prominent in the Army. I attended one corps where there were four elderly brothers, flowing down to many children and grandchildren – it took me ages to work out who was related to whom and how! Then, even worse, I discovered that through a distant relative and by marriage, I was related to the same family! As has been said many times, it’s an incestuous Army. We grow up, attend youth groups and divisional events, date other Salvationists, marry, and, before you know it, half the Army is related! Some years ago now, Tracey and I were asked to lead a corps anniversary at a large corps in Melbourne. After the Sunday morning meeting, an elderly male Salvationist approached us and thanked us for our leadership. He then looked at me and said, “I’ve been trying to place you; are you Edgar and Elva’s boy?” I replied that I was one of them, along with my brother, and he commented that I came from “good Army stock”. I said, “Well, yes, I guess I have red, blue and yellow blood. I’m a fifth-generation Salvo with parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts and cousins who are or have been officers. The Army’s all I’ve ever known.” Then, smiling, he turned to Tracey and said, “And who were your parents?” She replied that they were Tony and Gloria Anderson from Wodonga, but they didn’t attend the Army, and she was the first family member to be a Salvo. At this, the elderly chap simply muttered, “Oh”, and turned around and walked away. He loved me, but he wasn’t interested in Tracey at all! We looked at each other and laughed; his dismissal of her because she wasn’t ‘Army’ enough for him was plain to see. My son and daughter-in-law have their first child due in a few months. While it’s been lovely to see the renewed popularity of biblical names in recent years (Joshua, Josiah, Hannah, Leah, Caleb, Chloe, Jesse etc.) I wonder if I should suggest something to them to ensure the child isn’t treated as Tracey was. Hence, welcome to the world William Bramwell Ballington Cadman Brengle Davies, or Catherine Evangeline Emma Kate Eva Davies! – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

The territorial Worship Arts Team is dedicated to seeing creative arts leading people to encounters with Jesus and employs various strategies to help creatives flourish. The National Creative Arts Camp (NCAC) is an immersive and intensive experience for youth and young adults that equips them for ministry. NCAC24 is a creative development opportunity to nurture young creatives’ hearts, souls and faith. Being the second annual event of its kind, the territorial Worship Arts Team continues to educate various audiences that there is no one way to worship.​ Rather than just hearing it from the team, recent camp attendees have offered to share their experiences. We asked them four simple but insightful questions: What aspects of the camp did they cherish the most? What valuable lessons did they take away? Would they recommend NCAC to others? And how has this experience opened doors to potential opportunities in various ministries? Take a moment to be inspired by the genuine experiences and wisdom shared by these participants.​ What did you love? “The worship sessions, it was so incredible being in a room filled with people who loved God and wanted to worship God, and you could really feel the power of God in that space.” – Eva “Loved everything about NCAC this year.” – Nigel “I found that participating in the musical theatre and dance streams gave me the opportunity to not only do what I love but to meet amazing people from all across Australia.” – Teagan “Got to do photography and got to dance and be me.” – Maddy What did you learn? “The biggest thing for me as a takeaway is to continually listen to the Holy Spirit and be bold and courageous to act on that as well.” – Nigel “You find much more enjoyment in what you’re doing if you are thinking about why you’re doing it, instead of how you’re doing it; God cares about our whys.” – Eva “Have a week to meet new people, focus on our ministries and help each other with our faith.” – Jazmin Would you recommend attending NCAC? “Absolutely. I think if you are involved in the arts in whatever way, you worship, and you are passionate about it, then connecting with people who have similar passions to you, refining your skills and connecting yourself to the wider movement, absolutely would recommend NCAC, and I really valued my time there.” – Callum “It’s an amazing opportunity to hone your craft, spend time delving deep into the Word and also meet some extraordinary people.” – Sam How does camp equip you for ministry opportunities? “Use different skill sets all for the glory of God.” – Jazmin “Equipped me to see the positive things in life and not the negative things and not to take anything for granted.” – Eva “Great demonstration on how to get a bunch of people together and uniting them with a common goal.” – Callum For more information and to register click here. Watch the NCAC24 preview here.

The Melbourne Project 614 free cookbook, Meals to make ends meet, has been shortlisted for the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2023, which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the end of this month. The cookbook, compiled by Project 614 Hospitality Coordinator Adam Thomson, is on the shortlist for the major award in the ‘Fundraising – Charity’ category for the Pacific region. The awards ceremony will take place in the Saudi Arabian capital on 27-29 November during the Saudi Feast, the largest culinary event in the Middle East. More than 200 countries take part in the awards. “Every year, we have as many or more countries participating than the Olympic Games. Every country has a chance,” said Edouard Cointreau, President of the Gourmand Awards. “There is no other cultural event with so many countries participating for books and publications.” Launched in March, Meals to make ends meet 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. Salvos Online Managing Editor DEAN SIMPSON spoke with Project 614 chef Adam Thomson about the award nomination. Congratulations on the accolade Adam. What was Project 614’s reaction to being shortlisted for these awards? We were absolutely thrilled. 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. We’re really proud of the book and what it stands for and are elated that it has made the shortlist for these international cookbook awards. Why do you think the cookbook has been so popular and well-received? 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. We are very fortunate to have a large community of friends and supporters who helped us with everything from printing the book to hosting the book launch in Melbourne Parliament House in March. (To read the Salvos Online story on the cookbook launch, click here) What involvement did you have in the book? 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. What was your reaction to being shortlisted for a prestigious award like the Gourmands? Initially, I was absolutely shocked and wondered if the email from the Gourmand Awards was legitimate. After looking into it and realising it was real, I thought it must just be a recognition of The Salvation Army’s work, but to finally realise it is officially nominated for a Gourmand award is beyond my wildest dreams for this book. My hope in writing this book was only that I would help a few people be able to live more affordably and waste less in this financially turbulent time. To receive this sort of recognition has me lost for words. How many copies have been printed so far, and is it still in demand and being distributed? So far, thanks to our friends at Pressroom Partners, we have printed and distributed 50,000 copies of Meals to make ends meet across Salvo Stores and Centrelink offices nationwide, making it accessible to those who need it most. It is certainly still in demand, and we continue receiving requests about it. However, the demand has been so amazing that basically all of that initial 50,000 copy run has now been distributed. We do have a digital copy available now (see below) as well for those who missed out, but we are so glad that so many could get access to this resource that has hopefully been a help to them. Have you had any feedback or heard from people who the cookbook has positively impacted? Yes, we’ve had lots of feedback on the book, which has been amazing. A comment we’ve heard more than most is how people have loved that the recipes are down to earth and uncomplicated and how they can be made with everyday pantry ingredients. One time, while doing an interview about the book on a Canberra radio station, a listener texted in to say they loved the tips in the book on saving money by eating seasonally and using up leftovers, which was lovely to hear. What happens if you win the category? Is someone going to Saudi Arabia to pick up the award? If it did win, unfortunately, I won’t be travelling to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to pick it up, although that does sound nice. But we would be honoured to receive the accolade if somehow it did in its category. However, we are already delighted that it has been nominated, which is much more than we were expecting. Are there plans for another cookbook at any stage? There is nothing official on the schedule, but the wheels are always turning and working out new recipes and different ways we can help people. So, all I’ll say for now is ‘watch this space’. To download a digital copy of Meals to make ends meet, click here

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? I am currently a corps officer at Rockingham in WA with my husband Darrell, and we are going into our 14th year next year. I love being able to journey with people and show love to our community in my various roles. I am really loving seeing collaboration grow in both the community/social sector and across churches. 2. Away from the appointment (if that’s possible!), what do you do to relax or unwind? I love to walk, run, go to the gym, read, be a part of a book club, and catch up with friends over good food. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? The first song that comes to mind is Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me. I particularly like the line, ‘I labour on in weakness and rejoicing’. It is real. At times life can be tiring, but I continue to have hope and gratitude for God. 4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be, and what would you talk about? The person who comes to mind is Mary, Jesus’ mother. I think I would want to talk about motherhood and what raising her family was like. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? I love what I do. I spend most days alongside people who are vulnerable and in hardship; I can be a listening ear and a person of support. I love being able to bring hope to people and let them know they are valuable.

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

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

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

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