Search Results

Salvos Funerals National Director Malcolm Pittendrigh has been with The Salvation Army for over 28 years. Did you know The Salvation Army is a funeral provider? Salvos Funerals is a trusted not-for-profit service owned and operated by The Salvation Army. Its services extend across most of NSW and ACT, South East Queensland, Melbourne and Perth. Malcolm Pittendrigh is the National Director of Salvos Funerals, and today Salvos Online shares his story. BY MALCOLM PITTENDRIGH The Salvos Funerals journey began for me in 2012. I was working as the Financial Controller for The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus team and had often wondered why faith-based enterprises like The Salvation Army had not seriously considered entering the funeral industry. What started as a flippant suggestion around the boardroom table (along with other creative and left-field ideas) quickly gained support from senior leadership. Following prayerful consideration and due diligence, the idea gained momentum. In late 2015, I moved on from my finance role in aged care to actively pursue The Salvation Army’s entry into the funeral industry. I often joke that I moved from being a ‘bean counter’ to ‘undertaker’ – the life of every party! So, Salvos Funerals all started with a simple question: What if we offered funerals? Initially, I researched the possibilities on weekends and in spare moments around my aged care work. In 2013, the idea gained additional traction, and at that point, we integrated the concept into the Aged Care Plus three-year strategic plan. Later that same year, we engaged KPMG to provide us with an overview of the industry itself. Following additional interest from our leadership, we conducted further targeted research on population demographics and major areas of investment. The information collected was positive and reinforced earlier thinking. With an ageing Australian population and increasing mortality rates, together with our public reputation and the infrastructure and assets that The Salvation Army is blessed with, the business case was starting to take shape. Further due diligence and much prayer followed, exploring and moving with new opportunities as they were presented. The opportunity appealed to the leadership because it would support people during a vulnerable point in their lives, offering dignified care and compassion during a period of grief and sorrow. It also enhanced and supplemented an existing ministry, as many of our officers/clergy were already conducting the church-service element of a funeral. As National Director for Salvos Funerals, I am responsible for the strategic direction of this enterprise. However, I am still involved in the day-to-day operation of serving families with honouring their loved ones. For much of my 28 years with The Salvation Army, my calling has been working as a finance professional. I was intrigued and excited about exploring the funeral industry but had not carefully considered the seriousness of the subject matter of funeral work, or what was involved in performing a funeral, and a ‘start-up’ one at that! READ MORE: Where grief meets grace How would I cope upon seeing a deceased person for the first time? How do I address a family member who has lost the most precious person in the world to them? What do I say? How do I conduct myself at a funeral arrangement? It was daunting! I was completely out of my comfort zone. The Lord, however, equipped me accordingly and instilled in me a passion for serving families in this way. I certainly fumbled my way through those early funeral arrangements but quickly discovered the most precious of vocations. I love it! Fast forward to 2025, and we have served more than 4000 families in our brief history. We have a footprint that extends across most of NSW, ACT, Melbourne, Perth and more recently (from March 2025), Southeast Queensland … and we are growing. For more information on Salvos Funerals, click here

Salvos Funerals’ foundation of faith convinces us that hope, purpose and fulfilment can be everyone’s story. Salvos Funerals is a trusted not-for-profit service owned and operated by The Salvation Army.     Salvos Funerals contributes to the ongoing work of the Salvos in the community. As an ethical, not-for-profit organisation, Salvos Funerals continues this care that has been provided to Australians during times of need over the last 150 years.    Genuine compassion  Salvos Funerals is a compassionate and experienced team that can guide people through the funeral process with an affordable funeral that is a thoughtful blend of remembrance, celebration and mourning.    The team understands that making arrangements after the death of a loved one can be overwhelming and can walk you through all the necessary steps – taking the stressful work out of planning a funeral and allowing you the time and space you need to grieve.    “What we offer is a different level of care than commercial services,” says Megan Maxwell, Operations Manager. “We can go beyond what other services might be able to do, refer people to different supports and services, link them to pastoral care. Our care goes above and beyond.”      “It’s genuine compassion and not about the bottom dollar. For us, it’s about mission. It’s mission that motivates us, connecting people with community and serving them in their darkest moments. That’s the real focus. What you’ll get from us is a quality service. It’s important that our families are served well. Our theme is on our business cards, it’s genuine compassion.”    Services   Salvos Funerals offers a range of services across its locations in NSW, ACT, Victoria, Perth and South East Queensland. These include:    ·       When a loved one has passed – initial practical and emotional support  ·       Pre-planned funeral  ·       Direct cremation  ·       Basic funeral and cremation  ·       Personalised funeral    Salvos Funerals provide real value for quality service. All prices are upfront and transparent with no hidden costs. Any profits made help support the broader work of the Salvos in the community and add to the long-lasting legacy of care for others.    Welcoming to all   Salvos Funerals welcomes, and can assist with:  ·       Specific cultural, religious or family requirements  ·       Organising interpreters for people from non-English speaking backgrounds  “We work with all families differently,” Megan says. “The natural assumption is that because we’re The Salvation Army, we only serve the disadvantaged, but we serve families right across the board. There’s no one cohort of family we serve. It’s whoever finds us.”    Ongoing support    Grief and practical concerns don’t stop when a funeral is over. Salvos Funerals will still be there to help you deal with the grief and loss after the funeral. From pastoral support to aged care services, the Salvos can help you in many other practical ways, including referrals.    Financial assistance   The Salvation Army offers a range of support to those facing financial difficulties or looking for advice on money matters. These include financial counselling, help with everyday essentials and, in certain circumstances, a Salvation Army No Interest Loan Scheme loan for unexpected funerals.     Spiritual and social connection   Our faith convinces us that hope, purpose and fulfilment can be everyone’s story. Our local Salvation Army churches welcome everyone to join them for a range of spiritual and social activities.    Salvos Funerals are available 24/7. For phone details, Frequently Asked Questions, a guide for families, tips, checklists and other information, click here

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it?   My current appointment is Corps Officer at Coffs Harbour Corps, and the thing I find most satisfying about it is the people. We are blessed to have a church that is growing, multicultural, and inclusive of all age ranges, and is full of people who hunger and thirst for God, displaying this in their actions towards each other and the community. It’s a great place to be, both in terms of location and church-wise. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? It is a busy appointment, but the one thing I do most mornings early is go to the gym. I never enter the gym without first having a prayer time with God. It’s something that I really need to do as a set-up for each day both my prayer time and the gym. I also take the opportunity to listen to a podcast while I work out. For some, that would not seem relaxing, but for me, it is. I guess the most important part of relaxing and unwinding for me is spending time with family but mostly with Jeanette, my wife. I love to go out and just grab a cuppa, sometimes we will go into the café and other times we will grab a takeaway and head down to the beach and just talk. I love going for walks with Jeanette as well. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?                                                          I have many favourite songs, but in this season of life, ‘One More Day’ by Sons of Sunday resonates with me the most. It is a deeply testimonial song that reminds me in the verses all about life and how in every aspect of life, no matter what we go through, it is Jesus who gets us through. But the writers don’t end or focus on the struggle; they draw us to a place of thankfulness.   It is the chorus that really captivates me: ‘ Cause You gave me one more day, to say I love You. You have brought me all this way to testify of grace. What more can I say, but hallelujah? Thank You, Jesus, thank You, Jesus, thank You, Jesus, Cause You gave me one more day, one more day.’ I remember when I first heard this, I was struck by that line, ‘ You gave me one more day’ , and how precious this one more day is – a day to lead someone to Jesus. This is the only day I have to share my testimony in the verses with someone. I’m not promised tomorrow! I have been given ‘one more day.’ For me, there is a passion and an urgency in this. In the movie Schindler’s List , there is a scene that immediately I think about when I heard this song; Oskar Schindler says: “I didn’t do enough.” To which Itzhak Stern says: “You did so much.” Oskar Schindler replies: “This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people. This pin ... two people. This is gold. Two people. He would have given me two more, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern, for this. [He starts crying] I could have got one more person, and I didn’t! I, I, I didn’t!” I ask myself, am I giving my all for the cause of Jesus? Can I do more? I must do more! There is an old Salvation Army chorus that says, ‘ I want to live right, that God may use me at anytime and anywhere: I want to live right, that God may use me at anytime and anywhere.’ 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?   There are so many. I would love to chat with Peter. Another one would be Caleb. Just like favourite songs, it is seasonal and in this season of life, it would be Moses. I would like to talk to him about leadership and the way he kept a close relationship with God while leading so many people. How he was able to keep that close relationship when the people rebelled and denied him the opportunity of entering the Promised Land. So, it would be about leading from the position of leaning into God.   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?   Great question. Would I recommend officership? I pause because it’s not for everyone. For some, they know they are called by God into officership, and they value their current way of life more than serving Jesus. Then there are others who think they are called into officership and are really called into local leadership, serving Jesus through their local church and being bold in the workplaces they are already occupying.   To those who are called and know it, I would say to them, “What are you waiting for?” You have been called by King Jesus to be His representative on the earth, to speak on His behalf, to lead His church, of which He is the head. It’s not easy, but it is an adventure. You won’t regret it! What are you waiting for?! For me, it ties right into my favourite song right now, ‘One more day’. You have this one more day, make the most of it and serve Jesus the way He intended you to do it. My biggest regret is that I waited. Don’t wait! Go for it!

Tahana Turner, Kelly Brown (Ministry Assistant), Aux-Lieut Roderick Brown (Corps Officer) and Chris Waixel at the ‘ceremonial exchange’ at Launceston Corps’ NAIDOC Week service. Salvation Army corps and centres around the Australia Territory celebrated NAIDOC Week in a variety of ways. Salvos Online highlights three Salvo expressions – Launceston Corps, the Waterhole centre in Alice Springs and The Beacon centre in Perth – and how they honoured the week. BY SIMONE WORTHING NAIDOC Week celebrations at Launceston Corps, Tasmania, took on a national flavour this year, with the visit and involvement of Tahana Turner and Chris Waixel, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinators for Queensland and Victoria, respectively.   Tahana and Chris were among the special guests for the 6 July service, invited by Aux-Lieutenant Roderick Brown, Launceston Corps Officer, and supported by Shirli Congoo, General Manager, Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander ministries.   After a smoking ceremony, Delia Summers, a local community leader, gave the Welcome to Country. The corps songsters also performed before Tahana joined the worship group as they led the congregation in song and praise.   Tahana shared some insights on The Salvation Army’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan, including resourcing corps and centres to connect and engage with First Nations peoples and facilitate the reconciliation journey.   READ MORE: Reconciliation Action Plan 2025 – artwork and animation   Chris gave the message for the day, focusing on the need to raise the next generation from positions of strength, vision and legacy, reflecting this year’s NAIDOC Week theme. Tahana continued her songs, with a unique Indigenous focus. A ‘ceremonial exchange’ concluded the service – “They blessed us at the end of the service and we returned the exchange with a native plant as a gift for hosting us,” explained Tahana.   Many people, including corps and community members who had gathered for the special service, stayed on, yarning and sharing stories.   READ MORE: Reconciliation – the ongoing journey Elders in Council then invited Chris and Tahana to visit the premises. “It was incredible to go,” said Tahana. “We saw the pictures of all their ancestors throughout the building, ancestors that give us all the strength to do what we do and keep on going. I felt that it was a special space to be and felt honoured to be invited.”   Chris agreed. “That they felt we were the sort of people that they could trust and were safe enough to go into that special space for them, was incredible.” More photos from the event below: Alice Springs Corps celebrates NAIDOC Week More than 300 community members from The Salvation Army’s Waterhole Community Centre attended the NAIDOC Week celebration at Alice Springs Salvos on 10 July. “This was a wonderful joint project by the Waterhole, Moneycare, Homelessness and Doorways teams,” said Major Tim Watson, Alice Springs Corps Officer. “The celebrations began with a smoking ceremony by a local Arrente Elder. There was a barbeque, painting, earring making, a photo booth and cake. To see photos from the day, click on the arrow below. Photos: Paula Kelly. The Beacon puts NAIDOC Week on the map Residents and staff at The Beacon, The Salvation Army’s largest residential homelessness facility in Perth, had the opportunity to pin the ‘place of their birth/what they call home’ on the Australian Indigenous map during their on-site NAIDOC week festivities.    Beacon resident and NAIDOC committee member Dale W came up with the idea, aiming to educate attendees about the First Nations Australia map.   “Australia is lost in translation. The modern-day Australian map is drawn along state lines. Australia, in essence, is like Europe – made up of different cultures, languages and dialects. Yet, people see Australia as one culture, which we are not. By pinning the place of our birth/our home, everyone could connect to the traditional land,” Dale said.     The on-site event, attended by about 50 residents and staff, also included a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by Elder Nigel Wilkes, an educational session on the history of NAIDOC Week and speakers who focused on the 2025 theme – The Next Generation:  Strength, Vision, Legacy.   “The event concluded with the viewing of current and past NAIDOC week artworks produced by Beacon residents, a cuppa and traditional bush tomato scones,” said Karen Coetzee , The Beacon centre manager.

In South East Tasmania, the local Salvation Army has partnered with Business Employment Southeast TAS to give both hospitality skills and confidence to young people in the area. Offering free one-on-one barista training, resume writing and help finding a job, the program has allowed many young people to blossom.

The Salvos Colac Community Centre’s ‘The Drop-In’ has emerged as a lifeline of connection and purpose for disengaged youth ( photo courtesy of Olia Danilevich  pexels.com ). BY LERISSE SMITH What began as a modest social program at Colac Corps has evolved into one of the most dynamic and transformative forces for youth in the township. ‘The Drop-In’ at the Salvos Community Centre in regional Victoria has grown into something far bigger than anyone expected, integrating into the curriculum of two local schools and emerging as a lifeline of connection and purpose for disengaged youth – and its impact is spreading fast. “It has been phenomenal,” said Josiah Van Niekerk, Colac Corps Leader.  “The Drop-In has created flexible learning spaces. We are just trying to engage the disengaged through creating relational and community connections. The Drop-In’s motto is ‘a space for youth, shaped by youth’, and being part of the school curriculum is great. The school engagement has been massive, just phenomenal, and another four started last month.” Colac Corps Leader Josiah Van Niekerk. At the heart of it lies a deep and growing need for flexibility, belonging and alternative ways of learning for young people who do not thrive in traditional school environments.  Now integrated into the curriculum of the Saints College Colac, The Drop-In   gives students the chance to reconnect – with each other, with caring adults and with a renewed sense of purpose. And the numbers speak volumes. The program is embedded in two schools – Saints College Colac, involving 35 students, and Colac Secondary College, with 50 students. Other schools that have come on board include Beeac Primary School, South West Primary School, Greater Otway Applied Learning School (GOALS) and Trinity College Colac. They are all connected via the Colac Salvos’ Engage Program, with The Drop-In part of the program. But it is not just about academics or compulsory attendance. Around 100 young people pass through the Salvos centre each week, engaging in a mix of activities that tick off educational and personal growth. Some play the piano while others sketch and paint art that will hang on the centre walls. Students also assist with TentCare or domestic tasks such as vacuuming the floor. For others, just watching a movie or lounging is the order of the day. Above and below: These local Colac students take part in civil engagement duties including helping in the kitchen and creating artworks.  “They are disengaged in the way that they are lucky enough they turn up to school,” Josiah reflected. “So, we have been able to see some really good growth with The Drop-In. The young people have wanted to be here. That’s been really good.” More than attendance, The Drop-In is about transformation.  Students are learning life skills including responsibility, teamwork and how to give back to their local community through the Salvos Colac Community Centre – and the reach is already expanding. While the students involved are predominantly secondary-school aged, Josiah added that plans were in place to start its first primary school next term, with 13 students coming on a Wednesday across term three to serve, connect and socialise. With momentum building, the next steps are already taking shape.  The Salvos team is applying for a grant to bring someone on board to lead the program. The hope is to eventually have 200 to 300 students cycling through the community centre every year, ensuring the Salvos is not just a place to go, but a place to grow and a launchpad for potential. The growth will unlock even more opportunities. If successful with the grant, the Salvos would have the means to cater for a greater number of students once the other four schools are on board. The students would do the social side with The Drop-in or service across the Salvos’ other school engagement initiatives, including Otway Wardrobe, Otway TentCare, making meals for the community and working in its community garden. The corps also has musical lessons and woodwork classes launching soon. “It would be just phenomenal for the community and phenomenal for the centre,” Josiah remarked if the funding comes to fruition. But even without the funding, the mission is full steam ahead. A major fundraiser is set for October, aiming to support holiday programs in a region that currently has none. The programs and fundraisers help to fund and sustain all school engagement activities. The school holiday programs are aimed at pre-school and primary school students. And the vision doesn’t stop there. The plans are ambitious: a partnership with the local radio station, the Red Door Theatre, the local leisure centre, and the local sports stadium that includes three basketball courts and an oval. The local secondary college has offered its oval for the fun day out, too. Feature attractions will range from fairy floss and face painting to the CFA on site, and a Cousin Koala appearance thanks to the Salvos kids’ ministry team. With the community rallying behind them, the future is bright. And with the talk of a three-day festival next year, Josiah and his Salvos team are excited and energised about what lies ahead. “It has been this amazing thing,” Josiah reflected. “When we take that first step and really open up into a current need for our community, how much that door just swings wide open once we step into it.”

The Family Gospel Choir was one of the worship groups that led the congregation in praise during the festival. General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, international leaders of The Salvation Army, took part in the Denmark and Greenland Territory’s festival in Slagelse, on the Danish island of Zealand, from 21-22 June. The festival theme, ‘Compass’, underscored the call to navigate life according to God’s direction – and to extend that invitation to all corners of the world.   The doors of the festival venue remained open all weekend, serving as a powerful metaphor: an invitation to take faith beyond church walls and out into the world. The world leaders issued a strong challenge: to be “fully in and fully out”, calling for a natural synergy between inner and outer life, individually and corporately.   Many of the festival’s activities also took place outside, reflecting its outward focus. A vibrant marketplace featured stalls showcasing the work of The Salvation Army, fun activities for children and opportunities for prayer and conversation. The aroma of food from the mobile canteen drew constant crowds, while the Valby Band filled the square with joyful music, adding to the atmosphere.   A range of musicians and worship groups led the congregations in praise throughout the event, including a special moment of Greenlandic worship delivered via video link from Nuuk, Greenland.   The international leaders shared a vision of The Salvation Army as a movement focused on people, mission and legacy – knowing who we are, understanding our purpose and serving with an impact that lasts. Their message echoed Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV): “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”   This theme of transition gained deeper significance during the closing meeting, which also served as a farewell to the current territorial leaders, Lieut-Colonels Jan and Kjersti Risan.   It was a fitting end to a festival defined by unity, joy and the challenge to step boldly into the world – led by God’s compass.   Crisis centre visit During the festival, the General and Commissioner also visited The Salvation Army’s crisis centre Svendebjerggård in Hvidovre, 9km from Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital.   “It was an honour to participate in the inauguration of the 20 newly renovated rooms at the crisis centre,” said the General. “We join in prayer for Svendebjerggård, praying that it will be a source of blessings for many.”   The rooms of the centre have been remodelled so each residence now has its own bathroom – a welcome feature that will ease the everyday lives of the crisis-affected singles and families living at Svendebjerggård. To read the full story of the festival, click here .

Have you ever pleaded with God to take something away? In this devotional on 2 Corinthians, Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient and more than enough for any situation. God’s grace is given to invite us into his Kingdom. We live in a world that says ‘be strong’. However, God says, ‘Boast in your weakness’ because it is when we are weak that God’s strength shines through.

Each week throughout 2025, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army.   The focus territory/region shares prayer requests to help us pray with precision and power for one another.   This week (14-20 July) we are praying for the Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Territory.   Lieut-Colonels Luka and Rasoa Khayumbi lead the territory.   The Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Territory has 133 officers (133 active, 4 retired); employees 365; corps 45; outposts 31; senior soldiers 8445; adherents 338; junior soldiers 1403.   Pray for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Territory. Praise points: We are grateful to God for recent financial training in the territory, which fostered a sense of transparency, accountability and commitment. We thank God for safe travels for all the women who attended the West African Women’s Congress in Ghana. We praise God for the successful self-denial ingathering in May that brought together Salvationists from across the territory.   Prayer requests: Please pray that God will re-energise Salvationists spiritually, psychologically, emotionally and physically for his service. Pray for deliverance, spiritual growth and newfound freedom in Christ for the many young people in the territory. Pray that people in Liberia may realise the need for reconciliation among themselves and within their families. Pray for the youth department to be empowered spiritually, educationally and with a new mindset for the promotion of God’s Kingdom on planet earth. Pray for the wellbeing and good health of all active and retired officers. Pray for the upcoming ordination, commissioning and appointment of cadets of the Champion of the Mission Session on 22 September 2025. • To find out more about the Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Territory , click here . • To download the 2025 International Prayer Focus schedule, click here .   • To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here .

Image: The Salvation Army, Southwest Division, Emergency Disaster Services Facebook page. The Salvation Army’s Southwest Division in the United States has been assisting with disaster relief efforts following devastating flooding in New Mexico. The flash floods killed three people and damaged at least 200 homes last week when the Rio Ruidoso was overwhelmed by heavy rains, which fell on a burn scar from extensive wildfires last year. The Salvation Army has been present in the village of Ruidoso, providing assistance with donation management and coordinating donations of hygiene items, towels, non-perishable food and drinks and clothing. The floods hit the area on 8 July, just days after catastrophic flooding in the neighbouring state of Texas killed more than 120 people, including children and staff at a Christian camp centre. “Flooding across our nation has been devastating,” The Salvation Army’s Southwest Division Emergency Disaster Services wrote on its Facebook page. “Now neighbors in Ruidoso, New Mexico who lost so much in the fires that scarred their community are left in the wake of catastrophic flooding. They need us. “Let’s keep our New Mexico and Texas neighbors in our prayers. May God bless and protect them and all who show up to care in times of emergency!”

Salvos Online continues a new weekly column – Three Books. Today, we focus on Captain Amanda Lennestaal. Amanda is The Salvation Army’s General Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. An avid reader, Salvos Online asked Amanda three book-related questions:   Besides the gospels and Psalms, which is your favourite book in the Bible and why? For years, I kept Exodus buried in the pantry, convinced the real taste of radical community lay in the New Testament’s shared loaves and fishes. A fresh reading uncovered an earlier banquet – and women were among its first chefs. Midwives Shiphrah and Puah refuse the Pharaoh’s lethal recipe, preserving infant life and seasoning the story with female courage. Miriam later leads the liberation chorus, reminding diners that justice has a soprano line. Yet freedom is only the entrée. In the wilderness, God publishes a standing menu: every seventh day, the ovens switch off for householder, servant, migrant and even the livestock turning the mill. Rest is not a privilege but a mandated course, guaranteeing bodies worn by bondage, age or disability the same pause enjoyed by the strong. Daily manna reinforces the policy; whether one gathers little or much, each plate arrives full, affirming different capacities and rejecting the myth of scarcity. The finale is a crowd-funded dining hall. Gold, fabric, and skilled hands are offered freely, not extracted, turning collective generosity into sacred architecture. By the time Acts depicts believers sharing bread, they are simply reheating a dish Exodus perfected long before I pulled up a chair. Besides the Bible, what is a Christian book that has strongly influenced your faith? Phyllis Trible’s Texts of Terror became my bedside lamp the year my world went dark. When illness gutted my family and headlines roared with violence, I wanted Scripture to soothe me; instead, I found stories of concubines dismembered and daughters sacrificed. Trible does not wrap these passages in apologetic gauze. She lays them on the table, naming each wound, then invites readers to sit with the violated women whom the canon rarely lets speak. That fearless literary autopsy gave me a strange comfort: if the Bible can hold such agony without editing, perhaps God can hold mine. Trible’s method – “telling sad stories softly” – taught me that lament is part of the liturgy, not a detour around faith. By tracing Hebrew verbs, she helps the silenced L’ishah, Tamar, Jepthah’s daughter, and the nameless concubine regain narrative agency, reminding me that compassion begins with accurate listening. When anxiety contorts memories in my mind, I now practise her hermeneutic: slow down, name the harm, refuse to euphemise. The book does not solve terror, but it keeps me from spiritual denial. It convinces me that Christian hope is honest, not naive, and that resurrection talk means little unless we first honour the graves beneath our feet. What is a secular book that has revealed to you a Christian message or theme?   Shankari Chandran’s Safe Haven reignited my imagination around the Christian practice of setting an extra place at the table. The novel centres on a remote detention facility where refugees are confined, but the drama turns on the small, stubborn acts of hospitality that breach the razor wire – cups of tea slipped through fences, a volunteer nun who listens, local townsfolk who risk their own comfort to insist that strangers belong. Reading these scenes beside the Gospel call to welcome the outsider, I heard an echo of Christ’s promise: “I was a stranger, and you invited me in.” The plot’s pivot – an inquiry into the tragic death of a teenage detainee – lays bare what happens when a society withholds sanctuary: trauma multiplies, and hope curdles. Yet Chandran refuses despair. Her characters embody a quiet resurrection ethic, trusting that each courageous welcome is seed for a more just world. For me, the novel locates Christ not in institutional chapels but in the detainees’ resilient fellowship and in ordinary citizens who smuggle love past bureaucracy. Safe Haven enlarges the Exodus feast; it reminds me that the table God spreads is portable, generous, and always has room for one more, especially those left waiting outside the gate.

God has ordained specific times and seasons for every aspect of life, writes James Burns. BY JAMES BURNS In my role of keeping you on-trend, I have some questions for you: How many watches do you own – none, one or more? If it's more than one, how many do you wear at once? Only one? How old-fashioned! Apparently, many celebrities, like footballer Marcus Rashford, actors Bill Murray and Richard E. Grant, are wearing one on each wrist. Now admittedly, in Rashford's case, one is a gold Rolex and the other a Patek Phillippe, so I doubt that many of us can be quite so ostentatious. Perhaps as some of these folks are well-travelled, they may have one watch set to their home country and one to whichever country they find themselves in. Or perhaps they have too much time on their hands. Or should that be wrists? One very famous passage in the Bible, in Ecclesiastes 3 (King James Version), talks about time. It says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die ... a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance ... A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away ... A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” The passage encourages us to recognize that God has ordained specific times and seasons for every aspect of life. It was turned into a song called "Turn! Turn! Turn!", which has been recorded by Dolly Parton, The Seekers and The Byrds to name but a few artists. Read more: Wimbledon 2025: Tennis reminds us to take responsibility for our own performance The opening lines of Charles Dickens' novel "A Tale of Two Cities" famously begin with: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...", and that neatly sums up how our lives can go. It's easier to trust in His perfect timing when things are going well, but harder when it's not immediately clear to us. Then, we need to cultivate patience and have faith in God's plan. Hard as it is, when faced with uncertainty, we should try and rely on His wisdom and timing, rather than our own understanding. Is it time to think seriously about your relationship with God – a time to believe in Him and His son Jesus? You don't need two watches for that! And what if you are already a Christian? In his book Finishing Well , Bob Buford speaks about the difference between success and significance. Success, he defines as using your knowledge and experience to satisfy yourself with fame and fortune. Significance, however, is using that same knowledge and experience to help others. Success is all about getting; significance is about giving back. Surrendering to a vision that is bigger than your own ... to God's plan for your life. Through interviews with 60 successful people in their 40s and older, Buford details how they've gone beyond success to significance. Now, although many of his interviewees have retired from their businesses, the same principles apply whatever age we are. Ken Blanchard, author of the The One Minute Manager and one of Buford's interviewees, said, “Success is all about getting; significance is about giving back. Surrendering to a vision that is bigger than your own ... to God's plan for your life.” People often look forward to retirement, and when they get there, they find that either they've lost their purpose, or retirement isn't all that it's cracked up to be. But whether we're approaching retirement or still have many years to go, we all have a calling that will keep us going well beyond retirement. And as members of The Salvation Army or another church, we're never short of opportunities to make a positive, lasting impression by giving back – whether that be time, skills, a listening ear or something else. What are your plans for using your time and finishing well? *James Burns is a Salvationist freelance writer from Dunstable Corps in the UK