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Ashy House Church began over 15 years ago at Camberwell Corps (Vic.) with a desire to meet people who were feeling marginalised in the community. On a typical Tuesday night, the group meets for a meal, shares Scripture and prays together. Major Kate Baudinette says that Ashy House is “a beautiful expression of The Salvation Army’s mission ... we love Jesus and we love each other.”

To read the Promoted to Glory notice for Walter, click here

Lauren Barns and her guide dog Honey are precious members of the Ashy House Church that meets each Tuesday evening. (Centre) Lauren sitting next to Area Officer Major Kate Baudinette as she leads a recent gathering. BY LERISSE SMITH   Lauren Barns never imagined that one horrible rainy night and a twist of fate would dramatically change the course of her life forever.   Almost 12 years ago, a catastrophic accident at Melbourne’s Indented Head left her fighting for her life.   For reasons still unknown, Lauren’s car crashed into the side of a house, causing the wall to collapse onto her vehicle – and her head. The force of the impact left her critically injured and barely clinging to life. She was airlifted from the scene by helicopter in a race against time.   “I nearly died a number of times,” she recalled of the fateful night. “And not just from the accident, but while I was in hospital, too. I am very, very lucky to be here.”   No one could have predicted Lauren would survive such a horrific event. But she did. However, her long recovery would involve multiple surgeries, rehabilitation and countless therapy sessions. The accident also left her legally blind. And with survival also came heartbreak. “I lost all my friends after the accident, which is really sad,” she said. “So many people came to visit me while I was unconscious at the time ... Mum said they all came to say goodbye as they thought I was going to pass away. But nobody wanted to catch up after I got out.” In that void, her occupational therapists looked for meaningful ways to help Lauren reconnect with friendship and community – and one life-changing suggestion set her on a new path. They discovered Ashy Salvos House Church.   Walking into the building on the first night marked a significant step forward for Lauren. It was a place that felt completely different from any church she had known growing up. Lauren with Major Cilla Bone, who started Ashy House Church. “Everyone at Ashy House Church was so welcoming. It was amazing. And the pop-up dinner is always a winner!” Lauren reflected. “I grew up going to church and never liked church. It was always a chore. You had to get dressed in nice clothes, and because I never really fitted in, I never made friends. But coming here (to Ashy House), everyone is friends. It’s like a big family. Ashy House Church gives me something to look forward to each week.” The warmth of the friendship and fellowship drew her in instantly.  She recounted walking through the door and being greeted with a big hello from a friendly lady who then invited her out the next weekend with her family and drove her home – an act of kindness that stuck with Lauren. It also prompted her to ensure that next time she saw a new face, she would make a beeline for them, making sure they felt welcome too. In the years since she joined Ashy House, the church has become more than a place of worship. It has become her anchor. “This is my church now,” she says. “Everyone supports and encourages each other. It truly is lovely.” The sense of belonging has also helped her blossom in ways she never expected. Lauren shared how she had always been shy and introverted. But thanks to the “chatty and lovely” church members, they have helped her come out of her shell and become more social. And her Christian faith, once obligatory, is now freely expressed and shared in the Tuesday night gatherings and in tender, personal moments with God. “When I was lying in the hospital bed after the accident, not able to really move or do anything, the thing that got me through the whole hospital experience was God,” she emphasised. “Praying silently and music got me through – music is incredible. My parents gave me my iPod and earplugs, and somehow, I was able to scroll through the music albums. Praying also got me through. It gave me much more hope. I had someone there beside me. I wasn’t lonely because I knew God was always by my side. Now I feel God is with me when I meet with others at Ashy House Church, too.” Love has also taken on a new meaning and grown deeper since the accident. Speaking of her family with gratitude, Lauren highlighted how they supported her through her life-changing ordeal and the toughest of days. They held a bedside vigil when she lay in hospital. “I would wake up in hospital and they were just there,” she said. “They were there to support me all the time. They sat by my bed for hours and hours while I was unconscious, just holding my hand and waiting for me to wake up. My love for my family has certainly grown. Love is so much more important to me now than ever.” Honey the loveable Guide Dog. Best friend But it’s not just people who have helped reclaim her independence and joy – there is also a new best friend, Honey. Honey, her Guide Dog, came into her life in November last year, and with the Golden Labrador came a new and profound sense of freedom. “Honey is my best friend and my everything!” Lauren said, her voice brimming with affection. “I can’t imagine loving her any more than I already do. She really is my whole world, and I will do anything to make sure she is happy.” Honey did not just help Lauren navigate the physical world – she opened doors, literally and metaphorically. The first outing with Honey was a memorable one. Lauren recalled being at a busy shopping centre where the crowds literally parted for them both. It was an “awesome” moment, she reflected. However, when well-meaning people often asked to pat Honey, she had to explain that Honey was a working dog and not able to be patted for the safety of both herself and the dog. A sign on Honey’s special handle also ensures the message is clear. Though life with a Guide Dog is freeing, it hasn't been without challenges. Lauren has faced illegal and disheartening discrimination, being denied entry to two cafés because of her Guide Dog. Despite these setbacks, the pair have persevered, and now with driving no longer an option, Lauren is navigating public transport with Honey by her side. “It is so freeing to be able to go anywhere,” she said. “I’m unable to drive now, so I have to rely on public transport. But Honey has made all the difference.” Before her precious Guide Dog came onto the scene, she used a white cane, cheekily known as ‘Michael Caine,’ to navigate getting around. Humour, and even dark humour at times, have been critical, especially during the tough times of life. “It can be dark because of what I have been through,” she explained. “But that is what has got me through the hard times.” Lauren’s artwork that won first prize. Outside of church and Honey, Lauren finds solace in creativity, especially the arts. An art therapy class on Wednesday mornings at Amaroo Neighbourhood House, where participants have some form of disability, has given great joy. Adding to the delight of creating artworks of all sorts was winning first prize at an art show with a beautiful painting based on a photo of her Japanese Nanna. “I’m quarter Japanese!” she adds proudly. Looking to the future, the talented artist has great optimism and ambition. Now with more clarity about what brings her joy, Lauren hopes to return to study in the future especially as she once started a double degree in art and science. Ideally, she would like to work with animals and incorporate her love of the arts, too. Before the accident, life was filled with independence – she was the first of her siblings to move out of home, to have a boyfriend, to chart her own course. Step by step, she’s now rebuilding the independence that time and circumstance once took away: “Along with my therapy team, my main goal now is moving out of my parents’ home and becoming independent yet again.” And Ashy House Church remains a steady and vital presence in her journey, not just as a place of faith, but as a living community one, where fellowship isn’t formal but lived out in hugs, shared meals, exploring God's Word, and interwoven life experiences. “I really do look forward to Tuesday nights at Ashy House – it’s a highlight and essential date in my weekly calendar,” Lauren concluded. “It has helped turn my life around, given me hope for the future – and may it continue to change lives for a long time to come.”

Deep in the ancient ruins of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, archaeologists unearthed a papyrus scrap containing the earliest known Christian hymn, complete with both its lyrics and musical notation. It is a world first for music, faith and history – 1800 years in the making. Deep in the ancient ruins of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, archaeologists unearthed a papyrus scrap containing the earliest-known Christian hymn, complete with both its lyrics and musical notation. Now, an Australian team of filmmakers have brought the ancient song back to life in a captivating must-see documentary, The First Hymn , released across Australia this week. Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH spoke with the director and executive producer about the extraordinary journey from an ancient melody to a contemporary worship piece for the modern age.     It started with a simple coffee – and ended with a history-making project.   When long-time friends and documentary filmmakers Mark Hadley, a former Salvation Army magazine reviewer, and John Dickson sat down for a casual cuppa several years ago to chat about a great idea John was excited to share, little did they know it would lead into a journey far greater than they could have ever imagined   – the making of The First Hymn film, with John as Executive Producer and Presenter, and Mark as Director, Co-Producer and Scriptwriter.   The spark of the idea had surfaced in a most unlikely moment – under a microscope.   John was conducting research at the Oxford University Library several years ago, studying ancient papyrus fragments for a project, when a fragment caught his eye – an ancient hymn, 30 by 5 centimetres in size, nearly two millennia old.   “I was looking down the microscope at the lettering and thinking about how amazing it is,” reflected John, who is an Australian historian.   “This is an 1800-year-old song, and in about 30 seconds, the whole idea came to me to see if it were possible to revive it and give it back to the world.”   John Dickson (centre) with world-acclaimed musicians Ben Fielding (left) and Chris Tomlin who brought the first hymn back to life. Inspired by the moment, he shared the thought of first producing a song and then a documentary to track the song with acclaimed musician Ben Fielding, who responded with great enthusiasm.   “He was so excited, a spine-tingling response, that I thought, Wow! This might work,” John said. “And if I’ve got Ben Fielding on board, there’s every chance it’s going to work. And then, of course, when he got Chris Tomlin involved, it was supercharged!”   The conversation over a cuppa between Mark and John sealed the deal and became the catalyst for a full-scale film production on a song that has the Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and that God is the only giver of good gifts, at its core.   It was written during a period when Christians were severely persecuted by the Roman authorities, and yet the song is filled with joy and thanksgiving. The last line praises the ‘only giver of all good gifts.’   Hosted by John, the feature-length documentary chronicles the hymn’s journey from its desert origins to its modern resurrection, as acclaimed composers Chris and Ben transform the ancient melody into a contemporary worship piece, culminating in a live concert performance. The official documentary poster.  The manuscript itself was discovered 100 years ago, but has been sitting in the Oxford library ever since. Led by a team of leading historians, the discovery has provided insight into ancient music and early Christianity.   And now the film is taking centre stage across Australia, offering audiences a rare glimpse into how world-renowned worship music creators breathed new life into the ancient song.   Both Mark and John reflected on what they hope audiences will take away from the fascinating historical and musical journey of seeing a song come back to life.   Of key importance is that people come away with the understanding that the message of Jesus remains as powerful and relevant today as it was 1800 years ago.   “My greatest hope for that person is that they will be able to stand hands united with their brothers and sisters, connected by 1800 years of history and one song,” Mark said.   “That they will realise they are part of something bigger. It is not the local church on the corner. It isn’t even the big conference they might go to – it is much bigger than that. To paraphrase, as someone greater than me, C.S Lewis put it, ‘the church amazing and terrible with far-flung banners stretched across the universe’ – and we are part of that. That’s what I would like that first audience member to get.”   The filmmakers also aim to attract the curious outsider, history and music lovers alike, and those who wonder what the core of Christianity is all about – something intriguing to explore.   “The second audience member that I imagine sitting in the cinema is the sort of person who has no real commitment to Christianity,” Mark reflected.   “They are there out of an interest in history, or because they have been brought along by a friend, and they like the tale of what’s happened, something dug up, and that it has come all the way into the world. What I would like them to realise is that Christianity is the same yesterday as it is today.   “There is an unbroken link between what Christians believed back then, in Jesus, the Son of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Father. One Trinity, living in sacrificial unity, loving and teaching us to love, and that’s what Christianity is – and it’s still a song that’s being sung today. And I think that if they can walk away knowing the Christianity back then and the Christianity today are really one and the same thing, then that’s a game made.” John, Chris, Ben and the team in the studio breathing new life into the first hymn. The journey to bring the song back to life was neither simple nor smooth. The team faced academic red tape, logistical nightmares, and geopolitical challenges over three years, particularly while filming on location in Egypt, where the hymn was discovered.   “Filming in Egypt was the Everest that we had to get over,” Mark reflected.    “And that was the hardest thing, but it was absolutely inconceivable that we would tell this story without going to the ruins of Oxyrhynchus … In terms of the production, it was a mammoth task to get access to this particular archive … Egypt is an extremely controlled country. We had the first trip to Egypt and barely came away with anything. We didn’t get anywhere near the ruins. It was heart-rending for all the work, time, and travel that had gone into getting ourselves there, only to be turned away was very, very difficult. But never say die!” The ruins of Oxyrhynchus, where the earliest known Christian hymn was found. The team was not to be deterred – and returned six months later after gaining permission.   This time they made it to the ruins of Oxyrhynchus - the ancient city where the papyrus was originally found, unearthed in a rubbish dump. The song had been written on the back of a grain contract.   “You can imagine someone just going, ‘Anybody not using this? I will use this!’ I need to write the song down,” Mark exclaimed.   “Through difficult times, somebody writes a song about just how good God is. And that never ceases to grab me – that they sat down and they wrote this song. Now I wonder if they would ever have the faintest idea that this song, the better part of 2000 years ago, would be revived and sung all over the planet.” Mark Hadley at the entrance to the vault. There were more adventures to come. Mark recalls climbing into the tomb vault in the ruins of Oxyrhynchus: “We were taken into chambers that would have made fantastic sets for  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom! ” he said. “I kid you not, I had to climb down into the vault of the tomb, and what they said to me as I was going down was, ‘Be careful of the snakes!’”   One of the most moving moments for John was singing the ancient song alone deep in a crypt beneath the ruins of a vast forgotten church.   “I thought, how precious to be bringing this song back home,” he said. “This song hasn't been heard in this place for 2000 years nearly, and it was spine-tingling for me. That was, for me, a great moment.”   Back in the studio, Mark approached the film as an audio documentary first and then expanded into pictures. One of his main goals achieved was that the documentary is audibly beautiful.   And for Mark, it was also a labour of love as the production took three years, twice as long as his usual projects.   “When you start with a script, it’s really important to understand what the golden idea is,” he explained. “The golden spark. You have to actually keep this little light all the way from the beginning of the project to the end.”   And the final result? A documentary that captivated audiences.   At the worldwide launch in Los Angeles, viewers lined the block to come into the cinema.   “It was amazing and humbling,” Mark said.   “I think it’s going to be very, very hard to walk out of that film without feeling like you have seen something profound … it has deeply affected me ... to see this transposition of joy from the second century to the 21st century. I weep unashamedly when I hear the old song and the new song and realise they are the same song. God is not above teaching an old dog new tricks.”   But it was not just a film for Mark, who is a former reviewer for The Salvation Army’s Pipeline and Others magazines. It was an incredible faith odyssey for him, along with his wife, Maia, who is the film’s Co-Producer. Maia is a Web Content Coordinator for The Salvation Army.   Behind the scenes, he had two teams critical to the film’s success: the team he had gathered and the team God had gathered. Every challenge was met with prayer. Every closed door was answered with persistence and faith.   John Dickson with Armand Angour, one of the leading historians on The First Hymn project. “It was a God-breathed project,” he said.   “There is no doubt in my mind that if God had not pushed this project along, it would never have seen the light of day. There were too many points, humanly speaking, with the decades of experience I have with producing, where it could have just ground to a halt.”   For John, watching Chris and Ben perform the revived piece at the film’s launch before a crowd of 10,000 people was overwhelming. The original singers 2000 years ago could never have imagined that all these years later, 10,000 people would be experiencing their song.   And now that Australian audiences can finally see the film, Mark has one final request for the audience: stay to the end!   “We have designed credits that people will sit through,” he said. “We have built amazing extra footage into the credits. I want people to stay to the credits, because every single name that comes up on the rather lengthy list is someone I want to thank God for – there is a ‘thank you God’ behind every name that comes up because this was a God breathed project and each person was used to his glory.”   For more information, watch the trailer, listen to the song live in concert, and discover the Australian release dates, click here

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 (30 June-6 July) we are praying for the Indian Northern Territory.   Colonels Chawnghlut Vanlalfela and Ropari Khupchawng lead the territory.   The India Northern Territory has 501 officers (391 active, 110 retired); envoys 3; employees 250; corps 172; outposts 862; senior soldiers 73,715; adherents 1931; junior soldiers 4339.   Pray for India Northern Territory Praise: We praise God for a successful spiritual life seminar and spiritual revival meetings in the territory. We also praise God for Territorial Officers’ Councils and for successful Home League rallies throughout the territory. Prayer requests: ·       Pray for those who get new responsibilities for their settlements as well as our new, appointed sectional heads. ·       Pray for our new Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, Lieut-Colonels Abraham and Manjula Mudda, who will take up their appointments on 1 July 2025. ·       Pray for a resolution to the financial crisis that is ongoing in the territory. ·       Pray for increase in giving among Salvationists to support our territory. ·       Pray for spiritual revival in the life of officers and soldiers. ·       Pray for extensions work in Himachal Pradesh. To find out more about the India Northern Territory, click here . To download the 2025 International Prayer Focus schedule, click here .

Captain Anthony Hunt is the Corps Officer at Centenary Corps in Queensland. An avid reader, Salvos Online asked Anthony three book-related questions:   Besides the gospels and Psalms, which is your favourite book in the Bible and why? Great question! Honestly, it depends a bit on where I’m at in life, but right now, I’d say Revelation . I know for a lot of people it’s not usually their go-to, but for me, it’s been really meaningful. A lot of folks read Revelation like it’s a terrifying roadmap of doom and gloom. But at its heart, it’s actually a book of hope and encouragement. It was written to remind Christians, then and now, that no matter how things look, Jesus is King – and Caesar (or any other worldly power) isn’t. When we worship Jesus – the Lion and the Lamb – we’re actually standing in protest against the broken systems of this world. We’re declaring that true authority belongs to God alone. And that’s incredibly freeing. As Revelation 19 says: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns supreme … The wedding feast has begun.” I’d encourage anyone to read Revelation not with fear, but with hope – not with anxiety, but with worship. It’s a powerful reminder of who’s really in charge. Besides the Bible, what is a Christian book that has strongly influenced your faith? During COVID, like many people, I became more aware of just how much systemic racism affects the daily lives of people of colour. I wanted to listen and learn, so I deliberately read more books written by non-white authors. One that really stuck with me was Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley, an Anglican priest and student of NT Wright. In this book, McCaulley unpacks how African-American Christians read and interpret the Bible through their lived experience – dealing with oppression, injustice, and hope all at once. He brings the voice of the Black Church into conversation with Scripture, and tackles topics that often get overlooked by white theologians: race, political protest, policing, and more. Reading it opened my eyes to how much our own background and experiences shape the way we understand faith. It challenged me to approach theology with more humility and to listen to voices different from my own. And even when there’s disagreement, it’s taught me the importance of respectful dialogue and learning from one another in diversity. What is a secular book that has revealed to you a Christian message or theme? The one that springs to mind is Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. His memoir about growing up in crushing poverty in Ireland during the Great Depression paints such a vivid, often heartbreaking picture of hopelessness – yet somehow, Frank manages to carry a sense of hope through it all. You see how poverty, addiction, abandonment, and exploitation shaped him. And while he doesn’t always make great choices, you can’t help but feel for him – that he still deserves a chance at something better. For me, it echoes the heart of the Gospel. Even when we mess up, cut corners, or completely derail our lives, God still chooses to step in. Through Jesus, He offers us grace – a chance at a better, God-centred life, not because we’ve earned it, but because He loves us. That’s the beauty of the Good News: redemption, even in the mess.

To read the appointment bulletin, click here .

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it?    My wife and I are currently appointed as Corps Officers of Capricorn Region Corps (Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Kabra), encompassing the oversight of the Central Highlands Corps (Emerald) in Central Queensland, commencing in January this year. The most satisfying thing for me has been the way in which the corps has embraced us and the way in which we have been continually encouraged by the congregation.    2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?    I do like to have a hit of golf when I have the opportunity … and I am one of those people who enjoys mowing and pottering around the yard.    3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?   I have many favourites, but I guess the one that speaks to me the most is ‘Who Am I’ by Casting Crowns. It reminds me that God loves me in spite of who I am … in fact, he loves me because of who I am.    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?    I think I would like to have a conversation with Thomas. He reminds me of myself. I would encourage him that we all doubt at times, so he is not alone.   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?     I would say, go for it. If that is what God is calling you to, just be obedient.

(From left) Rich Robinson (MLC Global Leader), Major Dianne Jarvey (The Salvation Army’s Faith Communities Development Secretary), Major Andrew Jarvey (Southern Western Australia Area Officer), Aux-Lieut Adam Purcell (Salvation Army General Manager, Generations and Faith), and Lauren Martin (Salvation Army mission leader) at the Movement Leaders Collective gathering in London in May. Salvos Online journalist LAUREN MARTIN recently spent a week in London attending the Movement Leaders’ Collective global gathering with three other Aussie Salvos. In this Viewpoint article, she shares her reflections on the experience and what it means in an Australian context.   What did I learn at the Movement Leaders Collective (MLC) global gathering in London in May?   Well, I spent much of the first day at the gathering (it’s not a ‘conference’, it’s a ‘gathering’), partly jet-lagged and partly wondering what the heck I was doing there.    Most attendees were leaders of networks or held leadership positions within churches or missional organisations. I had come with three others from The Salvation Army, all of whom held leadership roles. Yet here I was, an untrained, part-time ‘tent-making’ mission leader from a small town in Australia. An everyday Christian from The Salvation Army, just trying to be obedient to God’s calling within my own local mission and ministry.    I soaked it all up, relishing the ample time provided to meet others and learn from their experiences seeing God at work building pockets of the kingdom of God outside the confines of a ‘Sunday-service-centred’ church.   The three-day gathering was led by Rich Robinson (speaker, author and leadership coach), Alan Hirsch (mission specialist) and the MLC team, who recently visited Australia to teach and train Salvation Army officers, staff and ministry personnel. (To read that story, click here ).   The focus was on creating a tipping point for movemental Christianity in the West. What would it look like to have a Jesus-centred, disciple-making ecclesia in multiple dynamic expressions transforming neighbourhoods, cities and entire nations? And how do we get there – reach a tipping point so that movemental Christianity is not just on the fringes, but the ‘norm’, and multiplying?   Insert brain explosion right here!   After the first day, I took a long walk along the River Thames and asked God the same question I had been asking myself all day – why am I here? What’s this all for?    Whilst I did not receive an ‘epiphany’ at that time, I had a peaceful sense that God’s work of renewal and restoration is  already happening . It is both a current and a future reality. Kingdom  is  coming. God’s plans cannot be thwarted.   One day, the Pharisees asked Jesus, ‘When will the Kingdom of God come?’ Jesus replied, ‘The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’, or, ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you’” (Luke 17:20-21).   At The Salvation Army, I hold a privileged position as a part-time writer with the national editorial team, which allows me to speak directly with frontline, missional practitioners within our movement. I hear firsthand what Jesus is doing, bringing hope and life to communities across Australia. I also witness it firsthand as part of the Shire Salvos team in my other part-time role as mission leader at 2508 Salvos (my home). READ MORE: New award honours Salvationists with a pioneering spirit   Make no mistake, Kingdom  is  coming. God’s plans to reconcile all of creation to himself cannot be thwarted.   Is it happening as fast as I want to see it happen? No! (But patience is a fruit that rarely makes an appearance in my spiritual fruit-bowl!)    Do I trust God’s timing? Absolutely.   On the second day of the MLC gathering (not conference), one of the MLC team members mentioned the ‘such-a-time-as-this’ story of Esther from the Old Testament. What struck me most was not the call to rise, like Esther did, to the occasion that history is presenting, but the fact that Mordecai tells Esther that if she doesn’t act, ‘relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place …”.    Again, I got that sense that as surely as the river flows towards the ocean, Kingdom  is  coming. Renewal is  already happening . And if we don’t act in accordance with it, it will simply ‘arise in another place’.    Let’s not pray for revival, let’s thank God that renewal is already happening, and ask him to show us where the Spirit is moving in our contexts and how we can join in!    And if you don’t know where to start (other than on your knees), seek out the MLC training that is currently being offered through The Salvation Army’s Faith Communities Development team. It is both practical and theological, focusing on movemental DNA, the five-fold APEST ministry model , and how to disrupt current systems in order to see and seek what God has for our movement and individual local communities.   What did I learn from the MLC global gathering in London in May? A lot. However, the most significant thing God showed me is that he is faithful and active in his plans to renew our world. I’m excited to be part of a movement – The Salvation Army – that is so perfectly positioned on the frontline to witness and be part of God’s work in action.

Majors Ionuts and Roxy Sandu, divisional leaders in Romania, with Pablo Zapata, UNHCR Romania representative. BY SIMONE WORTHING On International Refugee Day earlier this month (20 June), The Salvation Army’s Romania divisional leaders, Majors Ionuts and Roxy Sandu, joined representatives from the UNCHR, a range of humanitarian agencies and members of the diplomatic community at RomExpo Exhibition Centre in the capital, Bucharest, to mark the day.   The Salvation Army has been active at RomExpo since March 2022, as part of an international response to assist Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia’s full-scale war in their country. This response included distributing hundreds of thousands of vouchers for food, clothing, school supplies and other essential items for children. They also assisted with sorting clothing and food, as well as providing support to refugees through the Romanian corps. Australian officer Major Darren Elsley (seated, right) served at RomExpo on the project. This project has been recognised as best practice and implemented in other countries of the Eastern Europe Territory – Bulgaria, Georgia and Moldova.   Two Australian officers – Major Darren Elsley and Major Drew Ruthven – were also deployed to the response in RomExpo as part of The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services team. UNHCR’s Chief Field Officer in Romania, Danielle Beasley, thanked The Salvation Army for their ongoing work and support for Ukrainian refugees. At the Refugee Day gathering, UNHCR Chief Field Officer in Romania, Danielle Beasley, thanked The Salvation Army for their longstanding and consistent work and collaboration over the past three and a half years.   “Afterwards, delegates from various embassies and other organisations stopped by our stand to greet us and express their gratitude, led by Mr. Pablo Zapata, UNHCR Romania representative,” said Major Ionuts Sandu, Divisional Commander in Romania.   “Similarly, both on the stage and in front of the cameras, Cosmina Siminean, Director of Social Services Bucharest Municipality, described the work we do and its importance. She explained that The Salvation Army was the first organisation she started working with at RomExpo, and the only one still involved with the project.   “She said that, only by ‘working together, we bring hope’ to those fleeing war.”

REVIEWED BY JESSICA MORRIS What happens when you combine the schoolyard whimsy of Harry Potter with the mythology of Percy Jackson? You come out with a near-perfectly baked new superhero named Skandar Smith, a 13-year-old unicorn rider who could become the next big hero in children’s fantasy books. And while the title and cover bear too close a resemblance to Rick Riordan’s debut Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief , the complexity of Skandar’s world where every 13-year-old must find out if they have been paired with a magical unicorn and then train accordingly, stands on its own two feet – or should I say four hooves? Much of this book – the first in the series – is based around the ‘what if’ of Skandar’s identity. What if he is a unicorn rider? What if he can reclaim his family’s pride after his dad sank into depression following the death of his mum and his older sister flunked out on the unicorn exam? And what if there is something bigger going on that thwarts him from taking his unicorn test so he can fulfil his destiny? What unfolds is a clever plot, combining generational magic with a school for unicorn trainers who utilise fire, water, earth, and air. Yet through Skandar’s unusual orientation, he must learn to wield a mysterious fifth element so that he and his mischievous unicorn (named Scoundrel’s Luck) can hide their true gift, lest they be destroyed like all the spirit wielders of the previous generation. A kid’s fantasy novel is nothing without a villain, and by putting Skandar against The Weaver – a super-powerful unicorn rider who has managed to bond with the destructive wild unicorns in a bid to take over the mainland – we are initiated into a compelling and complex world. Filled with intrigue and twists that will keep the pages turning, A.F. Steadman will make you a tried and true fan of a young unicorn rider who never quite fits in. Available at major bookstores.

The Salvation Army’s South Pacific Theological Forum (SPTF) is inviting abstracts from across several fields for the upcoming Thought Matters Conference being held in October. This year’s theme is ‘Theologies of work, play and rest​’, and will explore questions such as whether achieving a balance between work and other aspects of life is really possible, what does it mean to live life to the full and flourish in every aspect of life and does this change, how and why do we work, how does our theology inform our understanding of how we live our lives, and how might different cultural perspectives expand our thinking about vocation, recreation and restoration. Thought Matters is an annual conference organised and facilitated by SPTF and exists to provide a platform for theological discussion that informs ministry practice. ​It includes representatives from territories across the South Pacific region, including Australia, Fiji and Samoa, among others. The conference will be held from 10–12 October, with registrations closing on 19 September. Registrations open on 4 July. The team welcomes diverse perspectives, with abstracts welcome from fields such as practical theology, missiology, biblical studies, church history and lived experience. Some possible topics include: • Spirituality in work, play and rest​ • Viewing work as vocation​ • Time-out, sabbath and retreat​ • Is the “Protestant work ethic” with its focus on hard work, discipline, self-control, frugality, and individual responsibility alive today, and does it help or hinder the Christian life? • Cultural, sociological, theological, psychological, generational, environmental and/or economic constructs of the meaning of work, play or rest​ • People who are excluded from the workforce​ • When identity is wrapped up in work​ • I’m retired, now what?​ • Play is not just for children​ • How might the practices—prayer, work, study, hospitality, and renewal—associated with the Benedictine “rule of life” teach us something helpful?​ • Living the embodied life​ • Theologies of wellbeing​   Abstract submissions are due 18 July 2025. To find out more about Thought Matters, see here .   To read abstract submission criteria and other information, see here .