This week is Children’s Book Week in Australia. It is a time when schools and public libraries celebrate books and Australian children’s authors and illustrators. The theme for Book Week 2023 is Read, Grow, Inspire. BY DAVID McKENZIE* Pre-loved books are finding new love thanks to a Colac Salvation Army initiative with a local primary school. Colac South West Primary School, in south-west Victoria, is having a book fair this week, where students can each pick up a free second-hand book. The fair coincides with Book Week activities. Children will each get a chance to peruse an array of books on offer and take one home for free. They range from picture storybooks to longer books, educational and activity books. Most of the books have come from the Colac Corps, with school families also providing books to give away. Colac Corps Ministry Assistant Josiah Van Niekerk said the book fair provided a great use for pre-loved books that came to The Salvation Army’s thrift shop. Josiah said The Salvation Army received a lot of donated books and sold huge amounts through the shop, but some books had minor defects that made them unsellable but still readable. He said the book fair meant The Salvation Army didn’t have to send those books to recycling. “It’s been great to be able to provide books for free. It keeps them out of being recycled.” Josiah said he would like to offer the book fair program at other primary schools and Colac Secondary College in the future. * David McKenzie is a journalist with the Colac Herald.

Emergency Services teams respond to Hawaii, Canada fires As the devastating fires that erupted across Lahaina, Hawaii, on 8 August continue to upend lives, The Salvation Army is still on the ground responding with food, shelter, emotional and spiritual care, and other critical services. The Emergency Disaster Services team in Hawaii has so far provided and coordinated the delivery of over 83,000 meals and is also offering emotional and spiritual care to evacuees and first responders. A particular focus has been “mass feedings” for those seeking refuge at Maui County/American Red Cross shelters, and anyone else in need across impacted communities. In addition to providing meals and support, the team has been using 100 per cent of the monetary donations for the exact relief supplies that the community needs. In Canada, The Salvation Army has continued to assist families affected by the wildfires in the Northwest Territories and British Columbia with food, shelter and medical supplies. With mass evacuations taking place in Yellowknife and Kelowna, many residents have temporarily relocated to different cities. The focus of the Emergency Disaster Services team is to ensure all evacuees and those on the frontlines have a safe place to stay, and that they remain well fed and hydrated. Salvation Army responds to violence in Pakistan The Salvation Army world is shocked and saddened to hear about the attacks on Salvation Army premises and other Christian churches in Pakistan on 16 August. International Headquarters has asked for prayers of reconciliation and comfort for all those affected. Hundreds of people armed with sticks and rocks stormed a predominantly Christian area in Faisalabad. Images on news outlets and social media showed smoke rising from church buildings, including The Salvation Army, and people setting fire to furniture. The attack was allegedly triggered by a group of religious zealots accusing a local Christian family of desecrating the Qur’an, according to a rescue official at the scene. Four churches had been set on fire, but there were no reports of injuries. At Territorial Headquarters (THQ) in Lahore yesterday, officers and their families impacted by the events were welcomed by territorial leaders and given “hope and encouragement in the face of destruction”. Leaders shared information on working through trauma, living in challenging times and finding hope in Jesus. THQ personnel gave practical gifts to the families and reminded them of their courage and resilience. IHQ highlights World Water Week Salvation Army International Headquarters in London is hosting an exhibition for World Water Week (18 August – 7 September). The exhibition highlights that: • Two billion people – 26 per cent of the world’s population – lack safely managed drinking water. • Around the world, up to 443 million school days are lost every year because of water-related illnesses. • If everyone, everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrhoeal deaths would be cut by a third. • Diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilet access kills one child under the age of five every two minutes. Salvationists and friends around the world are encouraged to reflect on what water means to us, and commit to seeking justice for those who do not have the safe water that we should all be able to enjoy. The exhibition encourages people to: • Start conversations about unequal access to water and use our voices to make a difference. • Cut down on waste, acting in solidarity with those with less or no access to safe water. • Donate and raise money for charities working to improve the situations of communities around the world. For more information and to view the exhibition, click here. Summer camp underway in Moldova Summer camps for children and teenagers are in full swing in Eastern Europe, including in Moldova, a division of the Eastern Europe Territory. “We continue to dive into the fascinating world of adventure, friendship and faith,” said camp leaders. “We are sure that this week will bring children even more joy, friendship and closeness to God and each other.” Camp activities include games, playground visits, Bible studies, lunches and “just an overall good time for the kids.” The leaders emphasised that this is a time when many children have an opportunity to hear the gospel. “Keep us in your prayers as the little ones grow in Christ and their little hearts trust in him.”

By CLIFF WORTHING With a background as a corps officer, chaplain and counsellor and with a Master of Business Administration, Karen Lattouf has all the eclectic skills for her role as Territorial Leadership Development Specialist. Karen has been in the role since 2015, providing leadership training, coaching, mentoring, consulting to leaders across The Salvation Army, and pastoral supervision to officers and corps leaders. “My hope and desire is to inspire Salvo leaders to support their people to be their best, to give them the best opportunity to flourish and shine,” Karen said. “So, I do what I can to create opportunities for leaders to be the best!” Karen’s approach centres around asking challenging questions rather than telling, helping leaders reflect, learn and apply concepts to their unique situation, creating space for participants to learn from each other and sharing the latest thinking on leadership development. “I try to make each interaction fit for purpose,” Karen said. “It’s more work for me, but I love creating light bulb moments and helping people build their capabilities.” Karen and her team have created a new Leadership and Management Development Program, which recently launched as a pilot program to help The Salvation Army respond to current and future needs. It explores the capabilities Salvo leaders need, whether they are new to the role or in positions where they are making the biggest decisions impacting our whole movement. “Servant leadership is a central philosophy to The Salvation Army empowering our people,” Karen said. “We want to be effective now and sustainable into the future.” “I would love people to know I am available because I am deeply passionate about inspiring people to be their best.” Karen believes leaders get the best from their people when they listen well, have empathy, are relational rather than authoritarian, and show an interest in each person. Karen’s role involves some travel since it is a national role, but it also has a strong online component. Karen has found the growth of online connections has made her more accessible. “I would love people to know I am available because I am deeply passionate about inspiring people to be their best,” Karen said. “This role is right up there with the best job I’ve ever had!” Salvo leaders can contact Karen to discuss ways she can support their leadership development.

The Preston Citadel Band will hold its Centenary Celebrations this weekend (26-27 August), and to mark the occasion, a book will be launched to honour the band’s 100 years of active service in the Melbourne community REVIEW BY IAN LINGARD The story of the Preston Citadel Band over 100 years mirrors life in its local community as well as some significant international events that dramatically impacted all Australians. The glossy, 124-page book is packed with interesting information, anecdotes and photos from 1925 to 2023. But it also reflects the evolution and challenges of Salvation Army banding over the years. The nine chapters are each cleverly named after Salvation Army brass band pieces, and I think this list will whet your appetite: Chapter 1: Army Warriors (Gilbert) – The birth of the band Chapter 2: Under Two Flags (Coles) – Service in dark days Chapter 3: Good Old Army (Coles) – The band has been very active Chapter 4: British Melodies (Gullidge) – Migrants with a mission Chapter 5: On Parade (Herikstad) – The challenges of change Chapter 6: Days of Rejoicing (Key) – An international era Chapter 7: The World for God (Silfverberg) – A legacy in Japan Chapter 8: Battle Ready (Trigg) – Baton changes Chapter 9: A Century of Service (D. Jones) – The past and the future. As well as detailing the band’s history, its leaders and ministry, there are lots of quirky, interesting anecdotes. For example: • In 1923, after a couple of months’ practice, a group of seven youths made their debut, and Preston Band was up and running. • In the early years, Preston bandsmen loved the band’s own march, The Prestonian, so much that when travelling home by train from the city, they would often whistle a few bars to let other bandsmen know they were on the platform! • On one trip to Ararat and Horsham, the band attracted a crowd of 500 to their concert in the Botanical Gardens and 600 to the after-church program in the town theatre. “In all, the band fulfilled 13 engagements and played 245 tunes.” • From the 1930s to the 1980s, the Preston Citadel Band was ahead of its time in relation to its hospital ministry. It made regular visits to the Royal Women’s Hospital and Bethesda Maternity Hospital, as well as to Pentridge Prison and the Kew Psychiatric Hospital. There were also regular Sunday afternoon visits to the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital until the late 1980s when the corps officer indicated to the bandmaster that “in an age of air conditioning and double-glazed windows, the music could barely be heard in the wards”. • In the late 1940s, the corps Sunday morning holiness meeting was regularly broadcast on 3DB, and the band also played on 3AR. “The band continued to make radio programs into the 1970s, by which time brass bands had been overwhelmed by rock ‘n’ roll, long-playing records and the advent of television, and were faded out of radio schedules.” • The 1955 weekend tour of Goulburn and Canberra was memorable for the ‘luxury’ bus that broke down on 12 occasions on the way, resulting in the Canberra segment of the weekend being abandoned. The trip home was more of the same and took 21 hours! I smiled when I read the report by Brigadier Harry Goffin (guest leader for the weekend), “Between those two momentous journeys, great meetings were held on Good Friday, and despite the band not having eaten for many hours, it played Man of Sorrows impressively.” And there are lots more gems like those! Merv Collins has done a great job in carefully documenting the history of the band in such an interesting way. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I’m confident you will too. Perhaps you have close links with the Preston Corps or the band and know some of the players mentioned or photographed. Perhaps you’re interested in a fascinating read about a well-known Salvation Army corps band. Perhaps you wonder how a brass band can evolve and adapt to not only survive but flourish for 100 years. If so, this is a book for you! The book will be available at Preston Corps over the Centenary Celebrations weekend for $30 or by emailing pcbcentenary@gmail.com for a copy to be posted anywhere in Australia for $40.

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE A corps in Melbourne’s southeast is offering the community a place to connect, grow their creativity and give back to others. Pakenham Corps recently launched an initiative called the Hope Cafe. What began as tea and coffee on a Monday has become an art, craft and games group and a community garden. Corps Officer Captain Katie Ryan said the initiative began with no formal program and was just a check-in space on Mondays for members of the local community to come and chat. Now each week, up to 40 people come to share their lives, create and grow food together. “By just creating a space for people to share their stories and share life together, they’ve come up with these really cool things,” Katie said. She said one man who came to the group from a refugee community in the area spoke very little English, but the group discovered through spending time with him that he was a gardener. This led to him leading the construction of a community garden. Another member, retiree Thalma, started attending the group soon after she took up art for the first time in her late 70s. As part of the creative groups at Hope Cafe, she began painting works inspired by her involvement with The Salvation Army. One of these included a painting of the Salvation Army kookaburra. Thalma now regularly attends the Sunday services at Pakenham Salvos and volunteers at the centre. She said she felt like it was the right place to spend her time and that the soldiers and staff were all approachable and down to earth. She said her grandparents were part of The Salvation Army, so she feels her life has done a complete circle. “It’s such a welcoming place to everyone, no matter what colour [you are] or anything about you,” Thalma said. “It’s just such a comfortable, happy place to be.” She said that COVID-19 had shaken everyone in the local community and that Hope Cafe was a haven for those feeling anxious and disconnected. “The friendship is just fantastic,” she said.

Fourth-generation Salvationist and former International Staff Band member Philip Cobb will be a guest soloist on the National Band of New Zealand’s tour of Australia in September. Philip, from the UK, is the Principal Trumpet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, having previously held the same position in the London Symphony Orchestra from age 21. The National Band of New Zealand is one of the world’s finest brass bands. Dating back to 1953, when the band performed at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and won the British Open, the band has subsequently toured nationally and internationally on 21 occasions. Under the baton of renowned New Zealand trombonist and conductor David Bremner, the 2023 National Band is excited to bring the best of New Zealand brass music to Australian shores. The band will begin its tour in Melbourne on 2 September (Hawthorne Town Hall), where Owen Morris will be the guest soloist. Philip will then join the band as guest soloist for the remainder of the tour: 3 September in Bendigo (Ulumbarra Theatre), 5 September in Newcastle (City Hall), 6 September in Sydney (Congress Hall Salvation Army), 8 September in Brisbane (Brisbane City Temple Salvation Army) and 9 September in Caloundra (The Events Centre). For more information on the concerts, check out the National Band of New Zealand’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nationalbandnz or go to its website: https://www.nationalband.co.nz/2023-australian-tour

By MAJOR PHIL INGLIS In the 1790s, James Watt invented (or adapted) a device for regulating the energy output of a steam engine. It would increase power when required and reduce power when it wasn’t needed. This ensured steady power was available even when situations changed (the train went uphill, for instance). It also ensured that no matter what happened, the engine wouldn’t blow up because there was too much pressure. The device was called a governor. This governor, and the governance it provided for steam engines, was the key that unlocked the industrial revolution. This industrial revolution fundamentally changed humanity as it spread across industries, countries and the world, ultimately creating the conditions within which The Salvation Army was born. In May, I was appointed to the governance portfolio of The Salvation Army Australia. Since then, I have been asked a number of times what exactly the governance department is for. My answer is to refer to James Watt’s governor. The Salvation Army is a giant machine. Far more complex and complicated than a steam engine, but like a steam engine, there are times when different departments need more energy and other times when some need less. There are times when the Salvation Army is under pressure, and energy needs to be conserved and released correctly, and there are times when heat needs to be taken out of certain systems to ensure things don’t explode. Over the past few years, I have watched a number of great international church leaders and ministries crumble because of various failures in judgement. In many cases, too much power and energy was invested in a single person, and that kind of pressure is unsustainable. This is also true when we examine failures in politics. There are many moving parts and a lot of things happening that not many people outside the department fully understand. All of these have been described as a failure of governance. That is, there was not enough of a mechanism within these churches and political parties that held a check on the amount of energy flowing through them. This is what it means to have sufficient governance. Ironically in the latest Robodebt tragedy, it was identified that the government did not have enough governance. Finally, I want to point out that the main image above shows that a governor in a steam engine is perhaps the most intricate and complicated piece of equipment. There is a reason why James Watt is considered a genius. The same thing is true in a governance department – whether within a church or another organisation. There are many moving parts and a lot of things happening that not many people outside the department fully understand. If you have any questions about the department and how it does what it does, I would be more than happy to answer questions or to find someone who can answer them. Contact me at phil.inglis@salvationarmy.org.au

BY CLIFF WORTHING Celebrating the past and embracing the future was the theme of Mackay Corps’ 135th anniversary on 12-13 August. “Everyone had a great time and enjoyed sharing lovely memories together as well as making new connections,” said Aux-Lieutenant Belinda Dobbie, Mackay Corps Officer. “However, the anniversary was a great opportunity to bring the community in to see what we are about.” Over 100 corps and community members attended a Saturday night concert that featured the corps worship team, timbrel brigade and the Mackay City Band. There was also a presentation on the corps’ history, a free barbeque and fundraising stalls for this year’s territorial Making it Happen project. When Aux-Lieutenant David Dobbie went to the local Woolworths to pick up and pay for the barbeque supplies, the store provided them free of charge. Mackay City Mayor Greg Williamson and two councillors came to the Sunday service led by Major Gavin Watts, Queensland Divisional Commander. Major Watts explored Joshua 4 to emphasise the importance of getting out in the community. The mayor acknowledged the importance of The Salvation Army to the community and its longevity in serving the city. “As well as working hard to make connections in our community, we are also praying for God to reveal to us the areas where we can partner with him in his mission for Mackay,” said Aux-Lieutenant David Dobbie. “We want everyone to know that everything we do is because we love Jesus!” More photos in slideshow below:

By ANTHONY CASTLE The Salvo Bigband will present an ‘extraordinary musical journey’ when it celebrates the legacy of The Salvation Army’s pioneering rock bigband from the 1970s, Solid Rock. The music of Solid Rock will take centre stage once again for a special tribute concert at Preston Corps in Melbourne on Saturday 9 September. “Get ready to be transported back in time with some of the old songs that made the Solid Rock band legendary,” said promoter Michael Sainsbery. Growing out of the collaborations of young Salvos, a jazz-rock band was formed in 1972, referencing the type of arrangements found in popular bands like Blood, Sweat, and Tears and Chicago. Called Solid Rock, the group released LPs and was even well-reviewed in Rolling Stone’s coverage of the Sunbury Festival. The modern-day Salvo Bigband, a group formed at the request of International Headquarters in 2010, and the concert will be graced with the presence of original Solid Rock band members, who will add their unique touch to the already spectacular line-up. The event will also mark the exclusive launch of Merv Collins’ remarkable book, Solid Rock - Live! (Read Barry Gittins’ book review here) A band called ‘Too Late For Sorry’ will perform in the Youth Hall from 6pm, with the main concert beginning at 7.15 pm. Admission is free, and attendees are kindly requested to bring a few extra dollars to grab a copy of the Merv Collins’ book as a treasured keepsake of this event. The event may be recorded and live-streamed, so even if people can’t make it in person, they need not miss out on the magic. “Whether you’re a seasoned fan who remembers the band’s glory days or someone who’s heard the legend and wants to experience it firsthand, come celebrate the musical legacy of The Salvation Army’s Solid Rock band,” Michael said.

BY BARRY GITTINS One of the more surreal aspects of recent Australian Salvation Army history is not that it spawned a culture-relating, musically gifted pop/rock band in the Solid Rock Big Band; it is that the group’s existence and achievements are largely unknown to Australian Salvationists. What was it again that Jesus said about prophets not being recognised and honoured in their own country by their own people? (Mark 6: 4). While there were leading lights of the movement back then who encouraged the Solid Rockers, the group was generally persona non grata in terms of lacking any official acknowledgement or Salvation Army coverage. Well, thanks to author Merv Collins, this state of affairs is being set to rights, albeit decades after Solid Rock spread some light and hope among young people. From its humble beginnings, through its many line-ups and members, across gigs that were well-received and/or controversially loud, we read of lives impacted, cultural mores threatened, and musical gifts honed and used to the glory of God. The international acclaim with which the group was met at legendary venues like the 1975 Sunbury rock festival (Australia’s Woodstock) should give all Salvationists a sense of pride and wonder. Music is the most sublime of gifts, and the trailblazing young men and women (and the likes of Merv, John Cleary, Dr Ralph Hultgren AM, Sharon Raymond, Graham McCoy, Neva Phillips, Mike Poore, Alan Collett, Brenton Broadstock AM, Ian Shanks, Stuie Lees etc. were indeed young back then) made their mark and set a path for others. This tome is wide-ranging in scope. It’s well-researched, well-written, and well and truly due. For those unaware of Solid Rock’s credentials, achievements and legacy, Solid Rock – Live! will inform, entertain, stir the heart and soul, amuse and occasionally provoke; outcomes that good musicians and the good Lord who gave us music would expect. Solid Rock – Live! 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 book will also be available for purchase at the special Solid Rock tribute concert at Preston Corps in Melbourne on Saturday 9 September.

BY GARTH R. HENTZSCHEL The Salvation Army impacted the Solomon Islands many years before the movement’s official commencement in 2011. On multiple occasions, from 1895 to 1998, people from the Islands requested the Army to work in the region. During this time, Solomon Islanders were enrolled as soldiers in Australia, and some returned home taking Salvationism with them. Prior to the permanent presence, the Army offered tangible assistance in the Islands during times of emergency. The Red Shield Defence Services operated on the Islands throughout World War Two and again in 2003 with RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands). In 2000, when evacuees were pulled from the Islands, Cairns Corps (Qld) provided food and clothing. After a tsunami hit Gizo Island on 2 April 2007, financial support from Australia and New Zealand saw Captain Gaina Vali and Major Soddy Maraga from Papua New Guinea Territory (PNG Territory) reconstruct 15 residences. In 2001, after increased requests for the Army to commence in the Solomon Islands, the PNG Territory investigated the possibility. However, the move was put on hold due to civil unrest in the Solomons. A few years later, Peter Maeatua, a Solomon Island government official and businessman, met an Australian Salvationist in Singapore. Peter vigorously requested the Army to commence in his homeland. From this request, the PNG Territory conducted a feasibility study on the Islands in late 2005. A report from this visit was sent to the Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ), London, which “gave provisional approval in 2009”. The Army sent Maraga to the Solomon Islands in 2009, which led to IHQ approving the work to commence in January 2011. IHQ listed the ‘official opening’ as ‘1 February 2011’, yet an ‘official opening weekend’ did not occur until 5 and 6 November 2011. On this weekend, Commissioner James Condon and Commissioner Raymond Finger represented the then two Australian Territories and promised both territories would financially contribute to the Army’s work in the Islands for five years. Commissioner Andrew Kalai, from the PNG Territory, also attended as this new work came under the jurisdiction of his territory. Major Soddy Maraga became the first ‘Officer in Charge’ of the Islands, and Peter Maeatua, along with 20 other Solomon Islanders, became the founding senior soldiers in the Islands. For a time, this work, which mainly focused on Honiara, was conducted by Candidates Tony and Rose Kinikoroa. The Honiara Corps activities included Sunday meetings, Home League, Bible studies, youth group gatherings and prayer evenings. When Tony and Rose entered officer training in 2015, Majors Malcolm and Laurel Herring took leadership of Honiara Corps. At this time, a ‘Salvation Army’ village on Malaita was linked to Honiara Corps. In 2016, people from North Malaita, Te Motu, and other Islands requested the Army to come to their location. In December 2017, Majors Robert and Vanessa Evans were appointed to lead the work in the Islands. From this time, additional locations throughout the country received an official Salvation Army presence. This growth was recognised in 2018 when the PNG Territory name was changed to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory. The Army’s goal in the Solomon Islands quickly became ‘self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating’. Self-governing saw an increase in soldiership and leadership training and the establishment of links with the local and expat communities. Self-supporting saw funding sources established, which included the sale of ‘Salvation Army Lavalava’ and low-cost fuel, and the establishment of coconut oil plants and an aluminium foundry. These were in addition to the usual Red Shield and Self-Denial Appeals. For self-propagating, Bible study weekends, school ministries, brass band training and mission trips throughout the islands are but some ways this goal was being met. Under Major Robert Evans, a new structure for the growth of spiritual work was established. Like the traditional Army corps and outpost, the Solomons developed corps, fellowships and missions. Missions were created when a village invited the Army to commence or a corps initiated ministry in a new location. In 2021, a decade after the official launch of the Army, there were two corps, two fellowships, and 27 missions, as well as other new openings. The growth in the number of locations saw a need for the housing of officers. In 2021, Major Robert Evans drafted a design for officers’ quarters, much along the lines of Commissioner James Hay when he designed simple halls in the 1910s. ‘Hay Halls’ helped the Army in Australia grow rapidly. It is hoped the ‘Evans Quarters’ will have a similar impact in the Solomon Islands. Go to https://my.salvos.org.au/making-it-happen/ for more information on this project. By the conclusion of 2022, the number of Salvationists on the Islands had increased to 300! The latest development, in 2023, reflected the integration of the Army on the Islands. The Solomon Islands Ministry Newsletter became Tok Stori, this use of a Pijin term further speaks of God’s good work in the region. *Garth R. Hentzschel is a Salvationist from Brisbane (Queensland) and is a freelance historian and writer.

Walk into any bookshop now and one of the biggest sections you’ll see is the one with all the cooking and recipe books. Over the past decade or so, we’ve gone foody mad, and you can now buy books promoting every type of cuisine and a few others you’ve never heard of. There are also books on cooking techniques and cooking with limited ingredients or one pot, as well as books based on one ingredient in all recipes (for example, the Vegemite cookbook). Committed Christians can even purchase The What Would Jesus Eat Cookbook, which includes recipes for the type of foods Jesus may well have eaten and information on the sorts of foods and grains Jesus would have been familiar with. (Oddly, this book doesn’t include Vegemite.) The first verse of Matthew 3 says that John the Baptist was preaching and baptising in Judea at the Jordan River and that he ate locusts and wild honey. Oddly – or not – some cookbooks cover both of these, for example, Bugs for Beginners (an eBook released in 2018) and The Fresh Honey Cookbook (Storey Publishing, 2013). I’m not sure that locusts and honey would cut it for me. I’m a big fan of honey but chewing on a crunchy insect doesn’t really get the taste buds tingling. On the other hand, it sounds pretty lean; it’s hard to picture John the Baptist being a man of considerable girth if he was basing his diet on tiny insects with almost no meat on them. Speaking of which, I like my meat too much to stick to honey and insects. I also like fruit and vegetables and chocolate and ice cream and donuts and milkshakes too much, but that’s another matter. I went on a diet once, but it didn’t give me enough food, so I went on two diets at the same time, and that worked better. I wasn’t hungry anymore. Neither worked; however, I didn’t lose weight. The Bible offers some warnings against gluttony and also says that my body is ‘a temple of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 6:19), so I just figure, logically, the more body, the more Holy Spirit I can fit in. I don’t eat to satisfy myself: I eat to become more holy. The Salvation Army is well known for eating. Perhaps not to outsiders, but I’m one who grew up attending regular corps lunches, morning teas, afternoon teas, suppers and picnics. I knew who, in my corps, made the best apple slice, who did the best curried egg sandwiches and who made the best fruitcake. Once, as a young man, I was given some fish for dinner and realised I didn’t know how to cook it. I just rang up one of the old ladies in the corps (the grandma of a mate) and said, “How do you cook fish?’. She told me, and it tasted great! So don’t just stick to honey and locusts, there’s a whole range of foods and recipes waiting for you. And if you don’t know how to cook something, just ring someone’s grandma – they’ll tell you. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos