To read Major Christine Cutts’ tribute, click here

“It’s been good to see how far Tony has come from when we first started working with him over a year ago,” said Peter Hore, Griffith Family Store manager. “It’s definitely been a team effort, with the Griffith Corps, Family Store and Homelessness team working together.” Peter has been working for over a year with Tony, a young man from the community who has been volunteering at the Griffith Family Store in south-west NSW, to pay off his outstanding fines under the Work and Development Order program and as a Community Service Order under correction services. This week, with the help of Judy Tamanisave, Team Leader – Homelessness Murrumbidgee, and her team from Salvos Housing, Tony will be moving into one of the bedsits on the corps property. “It was challenging for our Homelessness team due to Tony having no form of identification, which was his choice, but after seeing how grateful he was, he couldn't thank The Salvation Army enough,” Peter said. “It just goes to show how great things can happen and what we can achieve when we work as one. “Now Tony will have a safe place to sleep, and somewhere he can call home. With the help of other organisations in the area that also want to help Tony because of the impact The Salvation Army has had on him, the sky is the limit for him if he chooses it. “Correction Services are happy to help him with starting the process of recovering or replacing his documents and identification. The local branch of APM Employment, which assists people in finding work, improving their health and wellbeing and participating in their community, will help with any training or courses that Tony needs to gain employment. “The Linking Communities Network, with the help of our Homelessness team, managed to get Tony into a motel for the night due to the bedsit needing to be cleaned before he can move in.” The Homelessness team will continue to work with Tony to help him achieve his goals. Major Lyn Cathcart, Griffith Corps Officer, will continue assisting Tony in the Positive Lifestyle Program and the Family Store will help Tony replace his clothing. “This is what can happen when we work together,” said Peter.

Maxwells to confirm Army in Thailand Australian officers Commissioners Wayne and Robyn Maxwell will have several important duties to perform in the coming days as leaders of the South Pacific and East Asia Zone. Wayne, the zone’s International Secretary, and Robyn, the zone’s Secretary for Women’s Ministries, arrived in Singapore this week and were greeted by leaders from the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory. During their visit, the Maxwells will officiate the opening of a new facility in Kuching, Malaysia, and also confirm the work of the Army in Thailand. Following a meeting of The General’s Council in May, former world leader General Brian Peddle approved the official recognition of the commencement of the Army’s work in Thailand , making it the 134th country in which The Salvation Army has a legally and officially recognised ministry. Support for the vulnerable in Romania A Salvation Army mobile team has visited vulnerable families in Romania to distribute backpacks full of back-to-school essentials and a few extra treats. “One of the little girls was so happy about her backpack full of supplies,” said one of the team members. “She said she didn’t have anything for school, so she prayed about it and is happy now that her prayer was answered. “This is our mission in a world of suffering, with many lacking, to bring some hope, and answers to prayers.” As part of the Adventurers 2023 camp, Romanian Anti-Trafficking Liaison Officer Major Roxy Sandu led a workshop on prevention and awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking. She spoke on the theme ‘I have heard their cries’ designed for The Salvation Army’s International Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking on 24 September. The theme comes from Exodus 2:23-25: “The sons of Israel weighed in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of slavery reached to God. God heard their cry and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” “The children were very involved and wanted to write words of solidarity and encouragement, which they joined together with the help of the team in a continuous chain with the message ‘Put an end to it’,” Roxy said. Romanian Regional Leaders Majors Ionuts and Roxy Sandu recently met with a Salvation Army delegation from the Netherlands and Norway to look at the increase of migration to their nations, and how The Salvation Army can respond. Salvation Army supports Rwandan farming project In the African nation of Rwanda, Salvation Army teams are teaching farmers sustainable farming practices and self-sustaining business models. The farmers contribute to a village savings and loan association (VSLA), which is a community-based bank system where you can save money and take out a loan. The project is supported by The Salvation Army World Service Office . Here’s how it works: • The community members unite to form a VSLA group; • Regular contributions are made by each member, creating a pool of funds; • Members can then borrow from this fund, paying back with a small amount of interest; • The interest and savings generate income for the group, which can be reinvested or distributed. This type of banking system empowers farmers to improve their businesses while having a safety net to fall back on when emergencies come up. This loan and savings system enables the farmers to depend on and encourage each other to save each week; to expand their businesses; to send their kids to school; to become financially literate and self-sustaining, and so much more! Chef assists Salvos in challenging times Since the wildfires in western Canada began in April, The Salvation Army has joined with various partners to help provide food and hydration to evacuees and firefighters. In Kelowna, British Columbia, one chef and his team have made it a mission to ensure residents, evacuees, and frontline workers don’t go hungry. Chef Adam Relvas and his wife Lindsay are the owners of Relvas Catering. Together with their team, they partnered with The Salvation Army to provide meals for seniors unable to leave their homes due to the dangerous smoke hovering over Kelowna. “Once the fires started, we knew that we needed to do something to help. We talked with our contacts from The Salvation Army, and they wanted to do something as well to help so that the seniors didn’t have to go out into the smoke,” Adam said. While the Relvas team prepares meals, The Salvation Army reaches out to seniors in the community who may need food assistance. Once the meals are ready, the Army delivers the food to the homes of those in need. Partnerships between The Salvation Army and Relvas Catering have been frequent in the past few years – especially when it comes to providing food for seniors. “During COVID, we started teaming up with The Salvation Army to provide meals to seniors. And so we’ve had the relationship with them for the last few years,” Adam added. Since the collaborations with the Army began, Adam says his team has prepared over 10,000 meals for seniors in the community.

Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain stopped by Cooma Salvos Stores last Friday (15 September) to receive a certificate of appreciation for her help and support. The Salvation Army received a $16,500 Commonwealth Grant as a part of the Stronger Communities Program, which has been put towards effective heating and cooling in the Cooma store, Corps Officer Aux-Lieutenant Anthony Barford said. “We would like to thank Kristy for all her help and the work she does to support the community. The new infrastructure will help volunteers and staff stay comfortable while they support our community,” Anthony said. Ms McBain said she loves supporting organisations right across Eden-Monaro, especially those like The Salvation Army that do so much in our community, which many may not be aware of. “For people who are in need of the services of The Salvation Army, it is literally life-changing for them, and we should make sure volunteers and employees of The Salvation Army have a place they can come to which will be warm in winter and cool in summer,” she said. “It’s not only good for those volunteers and employees, but it’s also good for those community members who find this a safe space to come to. “Whatever we can do to assist what The Salvation Army does we are more than happy to support. “We absolutely take the lead of Sandra and Tony (Corps Offcers), the volunteers, and the organisation as a whole. This is a huge kudos to everyone involved in The Salvation Army in Cooma because without their work we wouldn’t know how or what to support them with, and we are thrilled to be able to support them.” Article courtesy of the Monaro Post

The Salvation Army’s work in Papua New Guinea over the past seven decades is the focus of an exciting new book to be launched by Salvos Publishing next week. Not Weary Yet: Inspiring Snippets of The Salvation Army Papua New Guinea Story will be launched at Port Macquarie Corps (NSW) on Wednesday 27 September, at 1.30pm. The book tells of the factors that led to starting the work of The Salvation Army in PNG on 31 August 1956, and compellingly describes some of the pioneering experiences of the early PNG Salvationists in establishing the Army in their own country. The book also contains snippets and stories of the ongoing work since those early days, through to today. Written by Commissioner Ian Cutmore with contributing authors including Commissioners James and Jan Condon, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas and Colonel Kelvin Alley, the book will be available at the launch and then from Salvationist Supplies by emailing trade.sydney@salvationarmy.org.au or trade.melbourne@salvationarmy.org.au or by calling Sydney Salvationist Supplies (1800 634 209) and Melbourne Salvation Army Supplies (1800 100 018). For those unable to attend the launch in person, a link to the event will be available on the Salvos Publishing Facebook page from Monday 25 September.

Majors Michelle and Niall Gibson are Rural and Remote Chaplains for The Salvation Army, sharing the gospel by foot, car and plane throughout the Top End of Australia. Being a listening ear and a helping hand to people in remote areas can make a big difference to these communities, and as Michelle says, “bringing Jesus to the people”.

BY CLIFF WORTHING ‘Housing, Help and Hope’ has already achieved the desired result for one family, with another family soon to reap the benefits of Bayside Corps’ Houses of Hope initiative in south-east Brisbane. “Our first family is now starting to dream about a better future,” said Jodie Frazer, Houses of Hope Coordinator. “The stability of secure accommodation has really helped, and the children regularly attend corps activities.” Previously, the family had struggled to maintain stability through five months of temporary living arrangements, sometimes without cooking facilities, making it difficult for the children to attend school regularly. Launched in June, the Houses of Hope initiative – with the slogan ‘Housing, Help and Hope’ – aims to provide safe and secure housing for families at risk of homelessness. Bayside Corps acts as the lead tenant for rental properties, helps furnish the property, assists families in accessing available government and community support and aids the family’s journey to sustainable self-sufficiency. The launch involved all three levels of government, local businesses, community groups, real estate agents and local Salvo expressions. “Within three days of the launch, our local Remax real estate agent came to us with a landlord wanting to offer their house for rental,” said Captain Natalie Frame, Bayside Corps Officer. “Other organisations and individuals have since offered furniture and fundraising opportunities.” Bayside Salvos are using $60,000 raised from several years of fundraising through Red Shield Appeals to fund the initiative. “However, we really needed buy-in from the community to make this work,” Natalie said. “Salvos Housing is a key component in managing the property side of things, and Cleveland Salvos Stores has been amazing as usual.” The corps anticipates having two additional families in rentals by the end of October. A landlord connected to the Bayside Salvos has offered their place for a family, and Remax Alexandra Hills has secured another house to rent. “It is so exciting to have this level of collaboration as the project brings people together to meet a desperate need,” Natalie said. “We thought we could start with one of these houses, but we have stretched our vision because so many people are interested in joining us to offer hope.”

Lawrence Besant is an Outreach Worker at the Villawood Pathways mission in Sydney. He shares his experience with Salvos Online of attending the Fraser Island fishing trip that is held each year primarily for men from Brisbane Streetlevel mission This year’s fishing trip with the Salvo community made me feel inspired. One, because there was so much natural creation around us that only God can create, and two, because there was common ground where the love of God could be expressed through human connection that had no expectations or judgement about what people should be. It was men being themselves and our call from God to love humanity unconditionally. It made me feel hopeful and that everyone is important in God’s eyes. God is with people in the tough stuff of life, as well as the good. I would be lying to say that it was a great place to be, and I did get lost in the space a few times, but it was so much more than just fishing with friends. Connection I minister to a community in Villawood, Sydney, working with similar communities like Brisbane Streetlevel. It is working with people, listening, caring, humbling ourselves before God and learning from the community. This can be tough because we see brokenness around us all the time. In being honest with myself, it can feel lonely at times. It was good to spend time with Salvo leaders such as Bryce Davies and Paul Maunder to learn what God was doing at Streetlevel. I felt connected to the wider Salvos community through the leadership and the welcome from the men in the group. Also, through the common experiences that the men were coping with in their lives. Magic moment My magic moment was watching one of the men catch his first fish and first worm. The men spent time teaching him how to cast and use the fishing rod and teaching him how to worm. Watching him catch his first fish was amazing. The absolute joy and amazement on his face was great, and we were able to share the moment with him. Sometimes communication is non-verbal. In this case, not much needs to be said. His expression told the story. Josh’s story One of the participants, Joshua Jarman, summed up the trips when he said this: “The Fraser Island trip helped me with my anxiety and depression. It taught me a lot about patience and a good way of budgeting. I met a lot of new people, and they have been great to have around and to be a part of the Fraser Island trip.” Mateship, adventure and a sense of belonging on Fraser Island fishing trip. Click here

By MAJOR BRYCE DAVIES Every year for the past 10 years (apart from a two-year break due to COVID), men from The Salvation Army’s Brisbane Streetlevel Mission have taken a one-week 4WD fishing trip to Fraser Island, Queensland. We link with another group of men connected to Peter Janetzki and his church and have strong bonds with many of these guys who have taught us and supported us over the years. This year, 16 guys and one female came along, and for a whole week, we were immersed in the vast variety and beauty of the world’s largest sand Island. It is truly a remarkable place – freshwater lakes and streams, rainforests and seemingly endless stretches of wide, sun-drenched beaches. Many of the guys had never been to the island before; for some, this was the first holiday experience they had had since childhood. Instantly, the sense of support and camaraderie was evident as we worked together to set up tents, arrange food for the week, and organise rods and tackle for significant beach fishing sessions. We caught heaps of good-sized fish and ate like kings. Every day, we sat together as a group and shared our highlights from the day before. Many shared about the friendship and the fun and banter of the group. There was always a comment about the sense of awe – found in the sunsets and the sunrise, the vast sky and surging ocean, the breaching whales and the soaring eagles. People appreciated the service offered to each other, such as preparing amazing meals, teaching guys how to cast or bait hooks or just making a coffee and sharing a chocolate. We planned out our days – learning to cooperate and accommodate each other and ensuring everyone had a great time. We had time to have significant conversations together as we sat on the beach or around a fire at night. I recall many significant chats about important issues and found the environment and the context lent itself to vulnerability as there was plenty of time to listen and share deeply. For many of the guys who attend this trip, it is by far the highlight of their year. They love the mateship, the adventure and the authentic sense of belonging and connection to the Salvos. The love felt within the group was palpable. This event undoubtedly helps some of our most vulnerable and marginalised people feel hope and confidence in the Christian way of life and in the people of The Salvation Army. One of the participants was Lawrence Besant, a Salvos Outreach Worker at Villawood Pathways mission in Sydney. Read his reflections on the Fraser Island fishing trip here.

REVIEWED BY IAIN TRAINOR* For anyone interested in the history of The Salvation Army and the influences that impacted co-founder William Booth, this book is a must. Written by retired Salvation Army officer Major Peter Collins, the book is a pleasant read that holds attention throughout the little over 400 pages. Before the reader assumes this is just a rehash of what has already been written, please be assured that is not the case. The book reminds the reader that the Wesleyan tradition came about through difficult times. The writer makes it very clear that John Wesley’s heart was set to reinvigorate the Church of England with the Spirit of Holiness. The Methodist New Connexion, the Primitive Methodists, and other disparate groups struggled with theology and organisational form. The inclusion of the theological stance and ministry of people like William Cooke, Charles Finney, James Caughey and the Fletchers gives insight into the life and times of great change not just in society but also in the Church and the role of the female ministry. While anyone with a passion for Salvation Army history would understand why both William and Catherine are referred to as the founders, the treatise gives very little doubt about Catherine’s influence on William, and one wonders how The Salvation Army might have evolved had she lived. With so much turmoil evidenced throughout the book, it does not take a genius to recognise the Spirit at work. Indeed, the progression from the East London Revival Union to the Christian Mission to The Salvation Army is one of God’s hand guiding, at times, very human individuals. The book deals fairly with the Methodist New Connexion conferences and the seminal conference at Liverpool, which set an unequivocal course for Booth and what would become The Salvation Army. If one were critical – not of the book, but the events – one might be perplexed at the reversal of direction taken by Booth. One of the most controversial points of contention in early Methodism was regarding the control Wesley exerted and the desire to broaden the organisational structure, yet in the organisation of The Salvation Army, Booth was totally autocratic. While vital for the effective development of Booth’s Army, one does wonder at the impact on strong-minded co-workers. Collins spends considerable time outlining the internal conflicts that plagued the Methodists, and one wonders if the structure of The Christian Mission was modified to avoid such pointless, futile conflicts, which inevitably detracted from the soul-saving function of the organisation. In conclusion, I would commend this work based on the significant insights it gives to the eventual development of The Salvation Army. Two Williams and their Contemporaries is available from Salvationist Supplies by emailing trade.sydney@salvationarmy.org.au or trade.melbourne@salvationarmy.org.au or by calling Sydney Salvationist Supplies (1800 634 209) and Melbourne Salvation Army Supplies (1800 100 018). The prices are $50 (soft cover) and $65 (hard cover). *Major Iain Trainor is a retired Salvation Army officer who lives in Western Australia

Salvationists and volunteers in Ukraine recently visited the village of Gorenka and delivered clothes, food and hygiene products provided by the France and Belgium Territory. The team regularly visits this village. The families who live there have been displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, or have seen their homes there destroyed. They are housed in temporary accommodation blocks where they share bathroom, kitchen and other facilities. “Visiting residents is always a tear-breaking moment, as these people share their stories of living without electricity, water, gas and heating in their apartments in extreme winter conditions before the temporary accommodation was built,” says Major Kostiantyn Shvab, Ukraine Divisional Commander. “Currently, residents in Gorenka village live in severe need of everything – food, clothes, shoes, hygiene products and more. The Salvation Army in Ukraine provides help and support to those are who in need and it relies on help that comes from other countries. The Ukraine Division is completely sure that the number of its supporters around the globe will grow and the range of help that can be provided will dramatically increase. “Gorenka village is physically severely destroyed, but because of the residents, it feels alive! However, all the residents are asking – What will happen next? When their homes be rebuilt and when their children will stop experiencing the horror of war?” Extremely heavy fighting took place in and around Gorenka early in the war, with citizens being evacuated on 5 March. They were allowed to return on 14 April. “It was a very big stress for them to see their homes destroyed and the belongings they had to leave, burned,” said Kostiantyn. “Most of the village residents lost everything they owned.” According to the United Nations, 1200 houses have been destroyed in Gorenka since the war began – approximately 80 per cent of the village. The Ukraine Division of The Salvation Army is part of the Eastern Europe Territory. To listen to Daniil’s message, click here. To read Irina’s message, click here.

In 2013, I was fortunate to attend the International College for Officers (ICO) – eight weeks in London with about 25 officers from around the world. It was a wonderful time that served both as a period of spiritual renewal as well as offering some valuable hints on leadership in ministry. Some sessions are marked as ‘translation sessions’ where rather than sending a translator to accompany one non-English speaker, it makes more sense to have a group of people who speak the same language if you are going to provide a translator. I was in a Korean ‘translation session’ and we had four Korean officers (and three Korean-American officers) and two Korean officers who acted as translators. So, all up, nine officers with Korean heritage. While the translators and Korean-American officers spoke fluent English, the four Korean officers spoke no English at all. We all got to know each other well, so the language barrier wasn’t too much of an issue. One day, I was sitting with two of the men, Yong-Don and Pil-Yong, at a lunch break. It led to one of the more memorable times in my life when they would talk to me in Korean (and I wouldn’t understand a word they were saying but would nod along), and I would speak to them in English (and they would similarly nod and smile). It was a wonderful, happy and slightly surreal time. I was enjoying the food and wanted to tell them this, so I asked one of the Korean American officers, Stephanie, “How do you say in Korean that the food is yummy?”, and she replied, “masisseoyo” (‘mass-ee-soy-you’). I turned to them and said, “masisseoyo” ... and they laughed. I thought maybe I’d got it wrong, so I pointed at the food and said, “masisseoyo”. They laughed harder, almost rolling on the floor. I called Stephanie back and said, “What word did you give me?” thinking she had set me up. She said, “Say the word to me”, so I did … all three of them laughed! She explained, “You’re saying the right word, but you’re saying it angry. No one says food is delicious while they sound angry!” Sometimes when you speak a foreign language, you can fall for the trap of speaking in English but trying to do so with an accent, thinking that will help you. Like when you’re in France, and instead of saying, “I would love a cup of tea”, you tell the waitress, “A werd lerv ay coop of tay.” I said to Stephanie that I had ‘learnt’ to speak an Asian language by watching samurai and kung fu movies as a child, so the only way I could speak Asian was to do so in an angry samurai voice: “Mmmm, this food is maaaaaa-si-SSEOYU!” No wonder they laughed. An Australian in England speaking TV-Asian to Koreans. We all laughed. God probably laughed too. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos