1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I’m Head of Government Relations Australia, based in Canberra, approximately one kilometre from Parliament House. I love connecting our Parliamentarians with the spiritual and practical mission of The Salvation Army in their local electorates. We strive to create a sense of being in partnership with Members of Parliament to solve the complex problems facing Australia – locally, at a state /territory level, and nationally. I also seek to support our MPs spiritually and pastorally. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I have a second appointment as a writer with The Salvation Army Australia. I find I’m never more satisfied and at ease than going into the writing bunker for a couple of days and letting the Spirit of God take over my keyboard. Love writing about people, mission and the challenges we face as human beings and as The Salvation Army and the Church generally. I also aim to have a full-day spiritual retreat once a month, which refreshes my spirit and declutters my mind and heart. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? There are several at the moment, but a stand-out for me is Hillsong’s What a Beautiful Name, written by Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood. There is power in this song and great theology, starting in the first line: ‘You were the Word at the beginning’. The song’s bridge inspires faith in a God who has demonstrated great power in Jesus Christ to set us free from all that hinders and to be all we were intended to be – the very best version of ourselves in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s strength and God’s grace and God’s mercy and God’s love are all inherent in the name, the beautiful name of Jesus. As far as a traditional song of the Church goes, I always love to sing And Can It Be by Charles Wesley. What a song! 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? It’s probably my namesake, Peter. I know people understand him through the lens of the Gospels, in which he appears impulsive and sometimes even unthinking as he attempts to lead the disciples and garner the favour of Jesus. But if you see Peter through the Acts of the Apostles and through his own New Testament letters, you see a man who developed a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit and who, over time, modified his behaviour and cultivated an openness to the mind of God that created momentous breakthroughs in the life of the Early Church. That’s what I would talk about. A powerful example of Peter’s personal growth is in Acts 10 where, through a vision, the Holy Spirit challenges Peter’s understanding of the Gospel as being for Jews only. Peter’s initial response was ‘surely not, Lord’. But the Holy Spirit persisted, and Peter’s obedience led to the entire Christian community realising that with Jesus no one is excluded from God’s embrace, no matter what their ethnicity or background. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? That’s a good question for these times when the vast majority of people are quite fierce about protecting what they do with their lives and how they spend their time. Today, we don’t easily let others, even a trusted community of faith, tell us what to do. But I have found that being a Salvation Army officer brings me great fulfilment in life. The main reason, I think, is because, in every appointment I have held, being an officer has given me wide access to journeying with people at all levels of society. Whether a corps officer or in communications roles, I have journeyed with civic leaders and people from all walks of life. It means walking spiritually and pastorally with people and in friendship and seeing how together we can make a difference in the world. Interview by Major Mal Davies

BY MATT ALLENSBY The Salvation Army’s Strategic Sourcing and Procurement team are leading a charge in the fight against modern slavery with the introduction of recent updates to our Procurement Policy. The updated Procurement Policy, combined with our Sourcing Agreement Standard, stipulates we must consider modern slavery and human rights in all our procurement activities and ensure we follow international best practice in responsible sourcing. The updates strengthen the policy’s alignment with our Christian values and ensure compliance with legal requirements such as the Modern Slavery Act 2018, and state-specific public procurement rules. Now, you may find yourself asking, “What is responsible sourcing?”. Responsible sourcing is a term often used in supply chain and sourcing contexts. It’s when an organisation intentionally sources or procures products and services for its operations in a sustainable, ethical, and socially conscious way. By following responsible sourcing principles, The Salvation Army is reflecting international best practice in human rights. Captain Stuart Glover, Secretary for Business Support, explained that when sourcing from new suppliers we must be vigilant in making sure they are following responsible sourcing practices. “It’s important to ask how much did this product really cost to make? Is someone else paying for me to save money? In reality, our cost-savings could be coming at the expense of someone in our supply chain – a person facing the same hardship or disadvantage that we are here to address. In fact, unwittingly we could even be the cause of the hardship and injustice some in our world experience because of our poor or ignorant purchasing practices,” Stuart highlighted. As the Army continues its fight against modern slavery, the Finance Department is actively working with our suppliers to inform and educate them on how they can improve their approaches to responsible sourcing and join the fight alongside us. Many suppliers have already answered the call, with the department hosting over 40 of our suppliers at a forum in June 2023, where they welcomed representatives from companies such as Woolworths, Kia, Wasteflex and Winc. The forum served as a unique opportunity to come together and form strong relationships of trust and respect, providing key suppliers with a safe environment to be honest and transparent about areas where they require support to ensure they continue following responsible sourcing practices. As a result of the Finance team’s efforts to ensure responsible sourcing practices are followed both internally and by our suppliers, they’ve excluded high-risk suppliers from tendering for work with us here at the Salvos. They’ve also elected to not work with businesses that contract suppliers who display an unwillingness to evolve and enhance their responsible sourcing performance. The Salvation Army’s Responsible Sourcing Manager, Heather Moore, explained the responsible sourcing program would see ongoing activities and engagement with our suppliers, to promote the positive social impact that responsible sourcing has. “Linking with our national vision statement, the goal of our responsible sourcing program is to ensure we are not benefitting from, causing or contributing to hardship or injustice through the goods and services we buy,” she explained. To support personnel in doing this, their team have developed a Responsible Sourcing Toolkit, which is available on request by contacting Heather. Personnel can also ensure they’re responsibly sourcing supplies by purchasing through Coupa, the Salvos’ online purchasing portal. Suppliers and, in time, products on Coupa for vetted responsible sourcing standards, which takes the burden off personnel and provides assurance about what they’re buying. By working together, everyone in the Army can contribute to fighting the injustices of modern slavery. To find out more about how The Salvation Army is joining the fight against modern slavery, watch this video on the Salvos Studios YouTube channel.

The Salvation Army’s Drive for Life program aims to see all young people have the opportunity to achieve their goals and reach their full potential. A driver’s license in a young person’s life is a key milestone that helps them move towards independence and hopefully allows them to pursue education, employment and housing goals. Justin Maher, a Drive for Life program coordinator, plays a key role in the program at Stafford in Brisbane. Salvos Online recently caught up with Justin to discuss the program and its demonstration of our mission of walking alongside people in our communities. BY CHLOE RICE Prior to his role with The Salvation Army, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin owned his own driving school. Near the end of the lockdowns, he was contacted by The Salvation Army in Brisbane, seeking his expertise in the Drive for Life program at Stafford. Justin decided to take a chance on the Salvos mission, closing his driving school and fully committing to this new opportunity. In his own practice, he would spend a lot of time teaching high-functioning autistic students, a passion that he felt aligned strongly with the Salvos’ mission of working with people with disabilities and disadvantaged youth. The Salvation Army Drive for Life program in Stafford is an ongoing initiative with approximately 70 students participating each year. Students in Queensland commit to 100 hours of driving practice to obtain their license. Justin shared that, at first, 100 hours can seem like a lot, but once students have practised with an instructor for the first 10 hours, they are introduced to a volunteer mentor and relationships are then formed. The volunteer mentors drawn from diverse backgrounds are “the golden stars in beginning the journey of growth and shared experiences between two generations”, according to Justin. In addition to the driving skills learnt, program mentors provide structured support amid life challenges, often equipping students with long-term life skills such as CV writing and job interview preparation. Some mentors even go the extra mile to pick up the students from different locations or arrange meeting points in central spaces, depending on the program location. There are currently three Drive for Life locations in Queensland – Lawnton and Stafford in Brisbane’s north and one in Bundaberg. Training for mentors The program in Stafford is closely linked with community initiatives, particularly those concerning refugees and youth outreach services. Justin says, “Addressing the trauma present in these young lives is a priority and preparing the mentors to guide them is key.” Training for mentors involves teaching them how to start lessons, initiate safe and meaningful conversations and meet students where they’re at – emotionally and mentally. Not to mention the workshops and special events just for the mentors. The mentorship experience is enriching for both parties, which, Justin says, “allows mentors to grow by gaining a deeper understanding of various cultures and backgrounds”. A vital component of the program is ensuring the lessons are tailored to a learner’s lived experience. Justin shared that there have been students from Afghanistan who’ve never been in a car but only had experience riding horseback. “It’s about understanding that some individuals have not grown up with the familiarity of being in a car and require tailored support and sometimes extra time,” he says. In this setting, mentors have the unique opportunity to be a steady presence, offering a wealth of experience, encouraging commitment and guiding students in the long drive of life. There are 20 mentors in the Stafford program, with the future hope being a one-to-one mentor-student ratio. “A key goal is increasing the number of volunteers, even within Brisbane, particularly for individuals emerging from traumatic experiences who we’ve seen find it difficult to prioritise getting a license,” Justin says. “Language barriers can present obstacles, and yet an opportunity for growth and learning for both the mentee and mentor ... teaching driving involves its own unique language.” The program is experiencing a notable influx of referrals, at least five a day, resulting in a growing waiting list. “It’s a struggle to keep up with the demand, securing grants to support this movement is also crucial to effectively address the growing demand and extend the program’s reach.” Justin explained that advancing the program is an ongoing goal, as digital transformation is essential, with access to IT playing a significant role in the program’s functionality. Unique challenges When asked about the main challenges the team faces in the program, Justin says, “Language barriers can present obstacles, and yet an opportunity for growth and learning for both the mentee and mentor ... teaching driving involves its own unique language.” Additionally, these young people frequently grapple with diverse life challenges such as job security, transportation accessibility and difficulties within their household dynamics, such as family fragmentation and lack of housing, not to mention the ongoing search to find their role and purpose in the world. “Encouraging students to attend their lessons in the midst of personal difficulty can be challenging,” Justin says. The age range of participants falls typically between 16 and 25, and some with diverse cultural backgrounds require a driver’s license to secure employment in Australia, adding another layer of difficulty to their experience. Reflecting on the most rewarding part of his job, Justin says, “Being on the frontline, building relationships with a young person and going on the journey with them, you can see where they come from and how they grow as individuals. And if they put one step in front of another, they can build a better life for themselves. “As a mentor, you can see the change in the student and the hope restored, not just with a license but the achievement and opening to greater opportunities – it really changes their life. Moulding the person they become, which correlates between moulding their understanding of the world and learning how to drive.”

Can you ever be truly financially ready for a natural disaster? The Salvation Army Moneycare team set out to explore this question in 2022 when they published an online book, Planning for the Unplanned: Are you financially ready for a natural disaster? Planning for the Unplanned is a guidebook that includes real stories from people and supports readers to develop their own plans for being prepared. The publication includes some tips from Moneycare financial counsellors who are part of a team that has helped thousands of people gain control of their finances for more than three decades. The team is also offering free webinars on planning for the unplanned – whether that be a natural disaster, sudden loss of income, change in family circumstances or a range of other reasons. The webinar dates are: Monday 11 September 10:30am-12:30pm. To register, click here. Thursday 28 September 6:30pm-8:30pm. To register, click here. Additional webinar dates: Thursday 12 October 10:30am-12:30pm Monday 23 October 6:30pm-8:30pm Tuesday 7 November 10:30am-12:30pm Wednesday 22 November 6:30pm-8:30pm Readers can also register for any of the above dates emailing: planningfortheunplanned@salvationarmy.org.au To download the book, click here.

Major Rod Serojales, Corps Officer at Sunraysia (Mildura), recently led a two-week mission trip to the Philippines. The mission team worked with 12 different corps in Mindoro Island and the Antique Province of Panay Island. The 11 team members came from corps in Sunraysia, Latrobe Valley (Vic.), Carindale (Qld), and the Mildura Chinese Christian Fellowship (MCCF). The purpose of the trip was to assist with the ministries of the Filipino corps in whatever ways were needed. This included repairing and repainting buildings, providing spiritual support, and working with local corps and community members to assist with ministries already operating there. During the trip, school bags and supplies funded by individuals in Australia were distributed to 350 children. The team also led Home League meetings where they taught crafts to the women. There were opportunities to connect with people of all ages in the local communities throughout each day and over meals. Team member Dr Grace (from the MCCF) conducted basic medical check-ups and health conversations. Four members of the mission team in the Philippines also travelled with the team for its entire visit, ensuring their safety and basic needs were met, providing transport and assisting with the mission. Team reflections When Margaret Anderson accepted the invitation to join the trip, she was worried whether she would have the energy needed to do all that was required of her. “But I have discovered that, ‘With God all things are possible,’” she says. “I found it a privilege to pray in the medical clinics as Dr Grace was seeing the patients. Also, what a joy to spend time with the Filipino people who were so welcoming and so generous as they shared food with us and comfortable places to stay.” At first, Heather Anderson didn’t want to accept the invitation to the mission trip as she did not feel adequate for the task. “But as a step of faith, I said yes to God and to the experience,” she shares. Heather says she was overwhelmed with the generosity of the Filipino Salvos and how warm and welcoming they were to the team. “They have given so much to us all, even though they have little resources,” she says. “Every day I had some occasion where tears filled my eyes, where whatever activity we were involved with ... has caused me to realise that God is involved in every person’s life and each one is special, worthy, important and loved by him. I know that my life has been radically changed forever because of this experience!” Medical outreach Dr Grace, who was on her fourth mission trip, was surprised at how expensive medications were in the Philippines, as well as the lack of resources and access to medical care, especially in rural areas. “For me as a GP, it was rewarding to provide consults, teach people about preventive health and give some medications to patients who need treatment,” she explains. “One man in the Samalagi area had a stroke a year ago but was not on any blood thinners ... we were able to provide him a month’s supply.” Danni Gray says the most eye-opening experience for her was “seeing the lack of what we would call the ‘normal everyday things’ we take for granted, like clean running water. When we visited Narra Outpost, I was told the whole town shares water, and if the tank runs empty, you just have to try the next day!” “I always find joy participating in mission trips," says Lyndon Gray, “because I enjoy the different cultures and being able to do simple things that can often make such a difference. I love that people are always willing to share and interact. And that faith crosses the cultural divide. I have enjoyed sharing my faith with the people and seeing God move among those we shared with, despite our language barrier. “It has also been interesting to see the people here so committed to ... furthering of God’s kingdom. They have so little but are willing to share what they have.” Ashleigh Gray had felt for some time that he was called to this kind of mission. “We were able to build the capacity of the local church,” he shares. “Having the members involved means that they have pride in their work and the church and have ownership of the work done.” Julie echoed the depth of respect for the Filipino people experienced by the whole team. “The most challenging experience was to see people living such simple lifestyles, yet they are still very faithful to our Lord and are happy and joyful with his blessings,” she said. Julie’s husband Tiang, also on the trip, adds, “Major Rod and the officers in the Philippines have done a great job. Major Rod [who is originally from the Philippines] put so much time and effort into the planning and was always ensuring the safety of the team and making sure all the logistics were going smoothly. It was a very humbling experience and taught me to appreciate things that I have and not to take things for granted.”

For more than a decade now, the phrase ‘consumer church’ or ‘consumer mentality’ has been used as a shorthand way of referring to a type of church and, indeed, a type of Christian. In simple terms, it refers to an approach where key questions for a believer are: How will this church please me? Does this church provide and tell me what I like? How will I be served and satisfied by being part of this church? It’s an approach that seems to place ‘self’ in front of God and make the worship experience about personal preferences. This has led to an increase in church ‘shopping’, where a Christian moves from church to church as they ‘try on’ different ones and decide which one to ‘buy’. I was wondering: what if we decided to go more fully into a consumer mentality and really made church a shopping experience? You buy a ticket, which reserves your seat, and you pick up some popcorn in the church foyer on the way in. The worship leader welcomes the congregation and says, “We can do ‘Build Your Kingdom Here’ or ‘How Great is Our God’. What am I bid and for which song?’ Members of the congregation call out dollar bids and name their choice of song. How Great is Our God wins, with a bid of $65. The corps’ EFTPOS machine is passed to them; they make payment and then – and only then! – the band starts playing. Several songs are purchased in the same manner, and then it’s time for the brass band to play their message for the morning. The bandmaster says: “At band practice on Tuesday night, Kevin paid for us to play his favourite piece today, ‘Emblem of the Army’, so here it is. The offering comes next, and the corps officer gets up to introduce it, saying: “As the offering is collected, please note that it will be counted in a back room immediately. If we have more than $1000, you get the 10-minute sermon. If it’s $500–$1000, you get the 20-minute sermon, and if it’s under $500, you get the 30-minute sermon.” The offering is taken and – wonderfully! miraculously! – it exceeds $1000. What a generous congregation! The end of the meeting nears, and the CSM, who is a wonderful singer, announces that she will sing the favourite song of the highest bidder to conclude the meeting. The bids come thick and fast: $100, $150, $180, $200 ... Finally, it’s settled. The winning bid is $285, and the song chosen by the winner contains a clear biblical reference: it’s ‘Highway to Hell’ by AC/DC. The song itself, of course, doesn’t matter – $285 was raised for mission work. Hallelujah! Now that’s a real consumer church: saving money, growing the bank balance and serving ourselves. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

Throughout the Hunter and Central Coast regions of NSW, Majors Fran and Mark Everitt provide a range of support to a wide and interconnected network of Salvos churches, teams and services. These, in turn, come alongside local community members in need. Fran explains why The Salvation Army’s Moneycare service is an essential part of this life-changing network. Major Fran Everitt remembers feeling uncharacteristically angry several years ago upon learning of a recently widowed pensioner struggling financially due to debt on multiple credit cards. His wife had managed all the family budgets, and he hadn’t understood the extent of their debt. The cards had each been taken out, despite a very limited income from the pension, in an attempt to cover the interest payments on the previous card. “My first emotion, when I found out, was anger – particularly at the card providers for allowing this to happen to vulnerable older people,” Fran shares. “There can be such a sense of shame around debt, but it can happen so easily. Credit can be an awful trap.” Easing financial stress Fran was able to organise for the pensioner, who was clearly not coping with both financial and emotional stress, to speak with a Salvos Moneycare counsellor. The counsellor helped him through financial counselling, developed a money plan (budget), and negotiated with the card providers. Eventually, the debt was fully cleared. “This elderly gentleman, who was grieving the loss of his wife, felt overwhelmed because he also felt trapped in debt. After his first appointment with the wonderful financial counsellor, he felt so relieved,” Fran says. “In many ways, it changed his life. “He became an enthusiastic saver in the years that followed and told me he only wished his wife could have been spared the burden of worry about debt in her final years. He wished they had known about Moneycare earlier.” One-stop services According to the 2021-22 Moneycare Outcome Measurement Annual Report, Moneycare supported more than 12,000 people Australia-wide. Of those asked about the impact, 93 per cent reported that Moneycare had an overall positive effect on their circumstances. Sixty-one per cent had their financial difficulties resolved through the support. Fran explains that many Salvation Army services, including Moneycare and Doorways (which offers urgent financial relief and holistic case management with referrals) are increasingly located together on shared sites. This allows community members with a range of needs to seek support at a single site, reducing stress and travel. Fran says this ease of assistance is more important than ever given the current cost-of-living crisis. “What we’re hearing and seeing are people who have full-time jobs but aren’t able to meet mortgage and rental payments because costs are rising in every area,” Fran shares. “We’re seeing so many more people from various walks of life in need. While our services can’t meet every need, we continually hear stories of people who have been assisted by our network of services – including Moneycare and Doorways – who return when their lives are more stable to say thank you, or volunteer, or donate to help others.” For Fran, hearing of lives transformed and hope restored is one of the most enjoyable aspects of her role. She says, “It’s quite beautiful and encouraging to see the light of hope come on in people’s eyes and hearts when they had previously felt hopeless and overwhelmed. “I feel very privileged and blessed to support the teams in any way I can, and they are in turn supporting people in the greatest need. That support really does change lives. I’m sure it saves lives too!” For more information on Anti-Poverty Week and resources, go to MySalvos here

BY MAJOR PETER McGUIGAN This month, Australia is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its most lauded and recognised icon on the world stage, the Sydney Opera House. On 20 October 1973, people packed Bennelong Point and the greater harbour foreshores as Queen Elizabeth II declared the magnificent edifice open. Construction had taken more than 14 years, such was the architectural brilliance and complexity of the project and the demand it placed upon the engineering capabilities of the time. The Opera House began as the vision of Eugene Goossens, “my dreamchild” he once called it, who came to Australia in 1946 as guest conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO). Goossens was surprised that the SSO’s main performance venue was the Sydney Town Hall – that Australia’s largest city was bereft of a specially appointed concert hall. He also found no theatres big enough to stage large or even medium-sized operas. Goossens became Resident Conductor of the SSO in July 1947 and championed the idea of an opera house built on Bennelong Point – both in the press and among senior government, council and music industry officials. Nothing much seemed to happen until 1954. Concerned that Goossens’ continuing campaigning in the press could embarrass the state government, ABC head Charles Moses suggested a meeting with then-Premier John Joseph Cahill. The meeting convinced Premier Cahill of the need for an opera house and its high priority. Late in 1954, preliminary planning began with the appointment of a committee to advise the government on building an opera house. Thirty-one sites were examined, and Bennelong Point was chosen. In January 1956, an international design competition was announced for the opera house. On 29 January 1957, Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect, was declared the competition winner. The judges stated: “We have returned again and again to the study of these drawings [and] are convinced that they present a concept of an opera house which is capable of being one of the great buildings of the world.” Premier Cahill ensured the project remained on track and in March 1959 construction began. It was a massive undertaking and one that was dotted with controversy. The venture experienced cost blow-outs, and there were occasions when the NSW Government was tempted to call a halt. In 1966, the situation reached a crisis point due to arguments about cost and interior design and the government withholding progress payments. Jørn Utzon resigned from the project, and the building took a further seven years to complete. Salvation Army links Despite all this, today Australia has an opera house regarded worldwide as the finest performing arts venue anywhere. It welcomes more than 10.9 million visitors annually, and more than 1.4 million people attend its 1800 performances. Among these have been many church occasions, including Salvation Army concerts, Christmas extravaganzas, congress gatherings and commissioning events. The very first Salvation Army event held at the Opera House was the culmination of the commissioning of the Blood and Fire session of Salvation Army officers - the celebration and appointments meeting held on Monday 14 January 1974. Salvationist and former Petersham and Sydney Congress Hall Corps Bandmaster Ron Prussing played in the SSO’s trombone section in the very first concert at the Sydney Opera House and has been its Principal Trombone for many years. “I was so privileged to be part of that night,” Ron told SSO supporters earlier this year through its View from the Stagenewsletter. “I was so young and naïve; I was just revelling in the music. I remember enjoying the spectacular nature of that incredible music. And it was music that I ultimately fell in love with.” The advent of the Sydney Opera House has influenced the development and maturing of the performing arts in Australia far more than any other event in its history. Why do so many people come to this venue and other performance venues around the country? They come for the same reason Goossens had his vision – to be taken by the excellence of the gifts God has given some of us to another level of human experience. Whether it be the beauty of a voice soaring, the intricacy of a symphony, the drama or humour of actors in the theatre round or even a powerful performance on the silver screen, these gifts express the deep longings of the human heart for meaning, understanding, justice and love. Many of us can’t put that longing into words or translate it into powerful drama, music or song. But we are certainly able to respond to a portrayal of love, grief, humour or tension that defines the state of the human heart. We are certainly able to say, “Yes, that’s what life should be (or should not be)”; “Yes, that’s how I feel”; “Yes, that’s what I need in my life”; “Yes, that’s what I want to aim for”; “Yes, I want to be a better person”. Perhaps you could take this writer’s advice and down tools, get yourself a ticket to the next SSO concert, go down to the Sydney Opera House and allow yourself to be thoroughly blessed! Our lives and attitudes have the capacity to be challenged, even changed forever, by the power of a single performance. Thank God for these gifts. Thank God for Goossens’ vision. Thank God we can be so powerfully enlivened in both mind and heart.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the rising cost of living? Or simply want to learn some new money skills? If so, you are not alone. Financial stress can have a huge impact on our mental health, overall wellbeing and relationships. Here are just a few tips from Salvos Moneycare to start you on your path to financial wellbeing.

BY NAOMI SINGLEHURST Amid the laughter of people playing board games and sharing in craft activities, the rustling of newspapers and the aroma of freshly cooked snacks, community connections and friendships are growing at the drop-in centre at Preston Corps in Melbourne. Serving a culturally and linguistically diverse community in this north-east suburb, the service’s drop-in space welcomes all, including those who access The Salvation Army Doorways, which offers emergency relief and care. “This is a safe place to relax and meet other people,” says Rose, a volunteer at the drop-in space. Preston Salvos also runs church services and small groups providing spiritual care, a music program for people with disabilities, Doorways and a community pantry. The drop-in space is open to all in the community, including those who access the Doorways service, with the understanding that economic and social isolation can be interconnected. Giving back Rose, who bakes snacks, serves in the community pantry and helps in various other ways at the drop-in centre, understands the importance of connection, especially for people who are struggling financially, physically and/or emotionally. She faced many struggles in her younger years and is now thrilled to help others in the community. As a single mother of five adult children and a part-time worker in disability care, Rose is overjoyed to “give back” to her community through the Salvos after receiving some support for herself and her family over the years. Rose explains that when she was ready to return to study and the workforce, she had no computer skills. Through The Salvation Army Employment Plus, she was able to access training and then find work. But Rose's connection to the Salvos goes much deeper. Many years ago, when her children were younger, The Salvation Army helped Rose and her kids with Christmas food, gifts and some unpaid bills. “I remember one winter I couldn't afford shoes for the five children, so The Salvation Army officers took us out to the shop and got them all shoes,” Rose smiles. “It really did help so much, and it also gave me hope that there were still good people out there. “That care gave me a reason to keep going and keep moving forward. I hope I can now do that for other people in the community.” Doorways to hope Neda Shavandi, regional Doorways manager for Victoria-West, says, “The Preston drop-in centre is beautifully aligned with The Salvation Army’s Doorways model, inviting isolated community members to feel comfortable and connected. Support is about much more than a voucher or food parcel – it’s also about creating a sense of belonging. “Preston is one of many examples of successful collaboration between the church, Doorways, other Salvation Army services, volunteers and community members,” she adds. “We are just working alongside each other to try to empower and lift each other up.” Under the Doorways model, in most states and territories in Australia, community members needing emergency relief first call the Salvos phone assistance line for assessment. They then visit their local Salvos centre to pick up emergency relief vouchers. Some centres, often located on an existing Salvos corps site, also have dedicated Doorways case workers and offer additional support, like the Preston community pantry. Neda says, “I tell our team, “I’m not here to teach you, and you’re not here to teach the community members; we are just working alongside each other to try to empower and lift each other up. With collaborations like the one at Preston Salvos, we are collectively getting better at doing just that.” Rose says she “absolutely loves” the drop-in space and her community and that “giving back” as a volunteer has given her much in return. “I’m also making lovely friends,” Rose adds. “I see myself in this role for the rest of my life. I love it. Everyone who comes in here is totally accepted. There is no judgement. Everyone is made to feel welcome. It is just lovely.” To call Doorways, phone: 1800 007 007 To make an appointment with a Salvos Moneycare financial counsellor, call 1800 722 363. For more information on Anti-Poverty Week and resources, go to MySalvos here

For 41 years, The Salvation Army has been the proud charity partner of Sydney’s Carol in the Domain event, raising millions to support Aussies experiencing homelessness. This year’s event is being held on Saturday 16 December and we need extra hands to help sell candle bags, scan tickets, welcome guests, and more. If you would like to join us in helping make this special Christmas celebration possible, please let us know. Apply here >>

NAOMI SINGLEHURST reflects on the new Salvos brand creative expression, ‘Believe in good’, using an example of a moment in history when a young Salvation Army ‘lass’ stood up for her good God Recently, while pondering the word ‘good’ in light of the refreshing new Salvation Army brand creative expression ‘Believe in good’, a book came to mind. The book, Angels on My Wings, written by the late flying padre Esrom Morse, details a simple good work by a young female Salvationist in the late 1800s that produced immeasurably good fruit throughout generations of Esrom’s family. This young Salvationist woman – maybe full of faith and fortitude, or possibly terrified and timid – started preaching on the street in the small Tasmanian town of Deloraine. Punters returning to town from the local races that day may have ignored her or mocked her as a ‘do-gooder’, or maybe much worse. Whatever the reality – and we will never know this side of heaven – she most certainly had a divine appointment on that particular day. Her good work in preaching the gospel would reap immeasurable fruit. Esrom writes that his grandfather, George – a tough man and a successful racehorse breeder and trainer – was one who was intrigued by what the young girl in a Salvation Army bonnet was saying. He writes: “A big change came to the Morse family when George Morse (dad’s father) stopped on a street corner after the Deloraine race meeting one day and listened to a little Salvation Army girl preach. “George had always known he was a sinner but had never heard that Jesus Christ had died to save him from his sin. But there on the road in Deloraine, he asked Jesus Christ to forgive him, and he knew he was forgiven.” George’s transformation was apparently profound and had a deep and lasting effect on his very large family and his community. Esrom writes: “Every one of [George’s large family of] boys became committed Christians and became actively involved in Christian activities. All the girls married preachers … To the best of my knowledge, every one of his grandchildren have become Christians, as have his great-grandchildren. “I have often wondered if that little Salvation Army lass actually ever knew of the change that Christ brought to the life of my grandfather that day, and I am certain she could never have dreamed of the [ripple] effect it would have down through the years on others.” God’s multiplier effect While there are many examples of good works that produce good fruit every day in the work of The Salvation Army, the Deloraine story gives just a glimpse of how wide-ranging the ripple effect through many generations can be when we do good and obey God. The rationale for the new ‘Believe in good’ brand creative expression is as follows (in part): “As Christians and Salvationists, we ‘believe in good’ because we believe in the love and goodness of God. While the Bible does say that no one is good, only God, Christians, often teased as ‘do-gooders’, are still biblically called to do good. Hospitals, laws, schools, charities, slavery abolition – so many things that our society calls ‘good’ were built on the belief in doing good that followers of Jesus hold. The culmination of God’s goodness is the timeless gift of Jesus who transforms the lives of those who believe in him and who then carry the goodness of God to others … [Remembering] we are not good in ourselves, but only made good – right – through the sacrifice of our good God in Jesus Christ.” God’s goodness and life transformation The story of the young Salvation Army ‘lass’ preaching on that street corner in Deloraine resonates with me when I think ‘Believe in good’ because her faithful and obedient good work resulted in so much that was, and is, well … good. And while we are not redeemed by our good works, we are most certainly redeemed for good work. We are redeemed by our good God, who works all things together for good in all things for those who love him. Ephesians tells us we are saved by grace, but also tells us: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (2:10 NIV). I like to imagine our young preacher in Deloraine – especially if she was mocked, jeered at, jostled, or even shunned by her family – eventually coming face-to-face with her Lord. I smile as I imagine her surprise at the flow-on effect in so many lives – including Esrom, who had an amazing ministry of care to remote communities around Australia – and so many more ripples through multiple generations and multiple ministries – from her one good work on that one day in Deloraine. Hopefully, she – and we – will one day hear the most beautiful words of all from Jesus, our Good Shepherd – “Well done, good and faithful servant …”. *Naomi Singlehurst is a Content Specialist for The Salvation Army Brand/Mission department New Salvos message like a ’breath of fresh air’ – to read Major Peter McGuigan’s Viewpoint on ‘Believe in good’, click here