Rescuing the lost ... a section of William Booth’s ‘Farm Colony’ illustration that appeared in his book ‘In Darkest England and the Way Out’. (Full image at the end of this article) BY BARRY GITTINS Life for early-day Salvationists was far from dull. The August 1883 issues of the War Cry, published 143 years ago this month, make that abundantly clear. The Kadina Salvos in South Australia were marching along with a brass band while “the Devil was raging [when] a nice little stone came over a fence into the procession, striking one of our Bandsmen on the leg, but, thank God, did not do any damage”. Then, as now, detractors were suspicious of this Salvation Army – publicans were particularly concerned that many testifying at the Salvos’ “good Free-and-Easy” meetings “did not now spend their money in the public-house”. At Port Augusta Salvos (SA) – where they held ‘Sisters’ meetings, ‘Brothers’ meetings, temperance meetings, open-air services, prayer meetings, ‘Cottage’ meetings and ‘Holiness’ meetings – many a “Great Drunkard and Swearer” was changing their life and finding “the desire was all gone for drink and pipe”. Then, as now, substance abuse and addiction were harming the lives of individuals and families. And then, as now, lives were being changed for the better. At Wallaroo Salvos (SA) – and in other places throughout the colonies – Salvos were using ‘Thanksgiving Teas’, ‘Grand Devil Driving’ meetings, ‘Grand Hosanna’ meetings, ‘Nicodemus’ meetings and ‘Tea Festivals’ – even indulging in “Hallelujah Waves of Handkerchiefs” – to denounce “the Demon Drink [as] the forerunner of all evil”. Horses played a vital role in how early Salvationists spread the Gospel throughout Australia. Ironically, while The Salvation Army declared its intention to “Wage War against King Alcohol”, Salvos returned home from ‘Sunday Knee-drills’ (prayer meetings) declaring they were “like giants refreshed with new wine”. The desire to promote changed lives included the publication of testimonies from “a converted actress” and “a converted spiritist”, who publicly pondered whether to burn, sell or take to headquarters their library of “infidel, spiritualist, pantheist and ‘magic’ books”. Changed lives also led to a desire to help others change theirs. The War Cry’s August 1883 issues also include additional subscriptions from friends and individuals (contributing a breadboard, a sugar basin, two candlesticks, stamps, etc.) to the Army’s Home for Fallen Sisters (a halfway house for women wanting to leave sex work). The Army’s interventions were not always welcome. Later that same year, a man “driving in a trap [wagon] drove through the crowd of an open-air ring and returned, thus risking the lives of the people. Some rough young fellows from a public-house saw it and came out, pulled the man out of the trap and thrashed him. Then the Publican turned Constable locked him up and summoned him for damages. He was fined very heavily. “Well done, publican,” the War Cry suggested. “This is an example.” Violence was always a possibility back then. Two years later, in the War Cry’s 8 August 1885 edition, a drunk man on horseback snatched a flaming torch out of the hands of a Sale Salvationist and “tried to burn the flag”… The horse trod on the foot of the flagbearer, who fell to the ground to protect the flag. Lieut Knight declared that in spite of “the enemy, The Salvation Army is marching along with banner and song” flying high. Early-day Salvos prepare to hold an open-air meeting. There was an enthusiasm – a driving fire – that carried people in an age before automobiles and reliable public transport. When not everyone could afford a horse or coach fare, or even one of those newfangled bicycles, people walked impressive distances to be part of the Salvos’ mission and ministry. Captain C. Wright reported that a man walked 42 miles (“and then was in the marches”) and that a woman walked 18 miles “along a lonely road, having no fear ... to be at our meeting” at Dunolly (Vic.). In the same issue, a woman at a Rescued Sisters Home testified that life was so bleak she’d attempted suicide twice – “once by the Yarra [river], once by laudanum” [an alcoholic tincture of opium then available as pain relief and a cough suppressant]. The same woman later fell in with the Salvos and was converted. Captain Rash added a plea, on behalf of the home, for “women’s clothing of all descriptions … a good chest of tea, a bag of sugar, or anything you can send.” Also, the Prison Gate Brigade reported supplying “719 meals and 231 beds” to “the poor that we have always with us ... Lord help us to do them good!” A cloth patch that early-day Salvationists wore. While the brigade was feeding and housing those in need, the Drunkards’ Brigade at Prahran Corps (Vic.) was bombarding “hotels … on the look-out for any poor drunkard that may be lying about”. Salvationists in those days would literally pick people up off the streets and from the gutters, hoist them into The Salvation Army’s ambulances, and take them to a safe place where they wouldn’t be run over by wagons, trampled by horses, or robbed while comatose. The brigades were not always well received. One man with a drinking problem, hailing “from the respectable class”, was reported to have assaulted a Salvo who was trying to help him (as the War Cry charitably suggested, “he wanted to feel our comrade’s bumps with his walking stick”). An image depicting a Salvationist reaching out to ‘poor fallen sisters’ in the late 1800s. Salvos from Maldon Corps (Vic.) visited a nearby “Chinese camp” and reported seeing “some of our poor fallen sisters” (white women engaged in sex work in the camp). The Salvos sang and prayed, and “one sister went to them and tried to persuade them to give up their evil ways, but she could not induce them to do so”. Encounters we would now describe as ‘cold’ were initiated with warm hearts; relationships were built despite public opinion, opposing worldviews and critical expectations. We made compassionate responses to pain – that was the way of the Salvos. To this day, it remains a valid and often welcomed Salvation Army response.

For all our advances, all our improved intelligence and, indeed, responses to overdose, people keep dying, writes SJ Finn. BY SJ FINN In August 2001, when International Overdose Awareness Day was founded, the world was a simpler place. But, it didn’t mean people weren’t losing their lives to overdose. Just the opposite. In 1999 alone, over a thousand people died in Australia from opiate use. That’s 3 people a day. Back then, while the physiology regarding overdoses was clear, no one was sure what was behind such a high rate of fatalities. The heroin was strong and cheap, but why? It was later we realised Myanmar’s military junta had done a deal with a drug king-pin some years earlier, and, as a result, warehouses that had been stockpiling heroin were hurriedly emptied. Australia was the destination for these drugs. This type of occurrence is no longer so hard to uncover. We have more information and, through our needle and syringe programs, better systems to warn the unsuspecting substance user about toxicity and contamination. But things aren’t going well. Things aren’t right. For all our advances, all our improved intelligence and, indeed, responses to overdose, people keep dying. The current data (2024 statistics) makes it starkly clear. In Australia, seven people die from overdose every day. That’s a person every 3.5 hours. More than double the rate at the height of the heroin glut in 1999 and 2000. For the 25th time, on 31 August, people around the world will be raising their voices as one to lower the overdose death toll. Governments should listen, because hard decisions regarding the redistribution of funds need to be made. Heavily weighted law and order responses are not working. And to rethink our approach begins with understanding the loss people experience when a loved-one passes away in this sudden and largely avoidable manner. It has been a windy road which led me to starting Overdose Awareness Day in 2001, and has kept me campaigning for this issue for the past 25 years. In the 1980s as a young social worker, a mother sought counselling with me because the rural town she lived in had turned against her after her child died of overdose. The impact of the shame she felt complicated her grief. The effect judgment from others had on her has always stayed with me. In the 1990s, as a family therapist working for The Royal Children’s Hospital, I saw families struggling because of interactions their children were having with drugs and the threat, sometimes realised, of overdose. At the Salvos, where I have worked since 1998 and still do today, I have met people who live with that threat constantly. These folk have often lost partners and friends, and, back in 2001, I saw they’d never been given the opportunity to mourn their loved-ones free from shame. This I felt was a risk factor in-and-of-itself. Of course, lowering the rate of fatalities is also about raising awareness. Now, one of the largest groups of people suffering overdose death are older people, who die from taking prescription opioids, and or benzodiazepines. Even in 2001, I was arguing there was no line between legal and illegal analgesics, and here we are, in living proof of the fact. Why then, when we have more knowledge about why, when we are finally able to access the overdose reversal drug, Naloxone, aren’t we seeing the rates of death come down? The answer lies in the uneven way funding is distributed. Two-thirds of the pie goes to law enforcement. The other third is largely shared between advertising-style campaigns that are often mis-framed and closer to scare campaigns, and treatment services, of which there are not nearly enough. Less than two percent of funding goes to the Harm Reduction sector, the people trying to keep people who use drugs alive, and as much as possible, free from harm. Don’t get me wrong, there have been advances in this last quarter century. The government has wisely decided to get behind the provision of Naloxone, and everyone in the using community – not to mention their families and friends – thanks them for it. In June this year, 20 machines dispensing Naloxone were positioned around locations in metropolitan and regional Victoria. But without other measures – the introduction of a safe supply, an increase in drug testing sites, an increase in injecting rooms – we will continue to fall short and fail society at large. So, after 25 years of campaigning, it seems we’re looking at 25 years more. Because until all those options for what we know would lower the risk of overdose have been implemented, those who campaign on a day that acknowledges the great loss experienced when someone dies of overdose will fight on. With the number of fatalities nudging double the road toll, the stakes are too high not to. Testimony to its need, the day has grown from a small gathering in the backyard of The Salvation Army Crisis Centre in metropolitan Melbourne to a far-reaching international event. For this, I am grateful. But, ironically, my wish is for the day not to be necessary at all. SJ Finn is a Needle Syringe Program Worker at The Salvation Army, a creative writer and the founder of International Overdose Awareness Day.

Nuwakot, Nepal, is one of the hardest-hit areas struck by a catastrophic ice avalanche and flooding. Photo by Tobias Federle on Unsplash IHQ COMMUNICATIONS The Salvation Army’s international leader General Lyndon Buckingham has expressed deep sorrow for the plight of victims of a catastrophic ice avalanche and flooding in Nepal (Rasuwa and Nuwakot Districts) and Tibet (China Gyirong County). He called people worldwide to prayer for disaster survivors and search-and-response teams. As of Friday morning, 28 August 2026, the disaster had claimed the lives of nearly 500 people and more than 1,000 people are missing, including foreign nationals and pilgrims. Whole villages and infrastructure have been obliterated and the extent of the destruction is hampering response efforts. ‘With deep sorrow, The Salvation Army around the world stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and Tibet (China),’ said General Buckingham. ‘We are praying for the families of those who have died and for the many thousands who have lost their homes and livelihoods. ‘We feel their grief, their fear and their vulnerability,’ he said, ‘and we call on the citizens of the world to reach out with your own prayers on behalf of our Nepalese and Tibetan brothers and sisters. We also sense the shock of families of international visitors to the region who have lost their lives or who are missing. We need to be praying for all affected persons and for the response personnel and their efforts to help survivors sustain life amid such tragic circumstances and destruction.’ A prayer for Nepal A prayer from The Salvation Army Spiritual Life Development team. Heavenly Father, We lift up Nepal and Tibet (China) to you today as the nations faces these devastating floods. We pray for everyone who has lost a loved one, a home, or their livelihood. Comfort those who are grieving, protect those in danger, and provide for those in need. We also pray for the international visitors to the region who have lost their lives or are missing. Your Word says, 'The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.' Psalm 34:18 Lord, strengthen the rescue teams and all who are serving. Bring healing, hope, and peace to the people of Nepal and Tibet (China). May your presence be with every family and community affected. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Rapid-response project Salvation Army personnel and local partners are coordinating closely with district authorities, humanitarian coordination mechanisms and ongoing search-and-rescue-and-response efforts led by the Government of Nepal. Through a first rapid-response project, The Salvation Army plans to provide immediate food assistance and essential household items to the most vulnerable flood-affected households. Activities will begin with a rapid-needs assessment conducted in consultation with affected communities and local authorities. The Salvation Army will then procure, transport and distribute emergency food packages, alongside essential household items such as blankets, clothing, bedding and emergency lights. The implementation will be supported by local Salvation Army officers, volunteers and community networks who have existing relationships with local communities, enabling efficient identification of beneficiaries and delivery of assistance. The intervention will complement the wider humanitarian response by addressing immediate gaps in food security and access to essential household items among the most vulnerable families. Further assessments will be undertaken – as access improves and more information becomes available – to identify evolving humanitarian needs and determine whether a broader, longer-term response is required beyond the initial rapid-response phase. An enduring relationship The Salvation Army has an enduring relationship with Nepal. In the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake and aftershocks that killed nearly 9,000 people, The Salvation Army sent international relief teams to the country to support The Salvation Army in Nepal. Salvation Army International Emergency Response members in Nepal, 2015. The international team members stayed for more than six months working alongside local colleagues before transitioning the work to a long-term development team. The Salvation Army teams managed displacement camps for people who lost their homes in cities like Kathmandu, and built temporary learning centres, rudimentary houses, septic tanks, and toilets for schools and communities. They distributed food packages to more than 11,000 families, alongside thousands of tents, tarpaulins and quilts for winter. Nepal is part of the India Eastern Territory.

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I work at Shellharbour Salvation Army Church. I am never satisfied. There is always a soul to be saved. This doesn't mean I am unhappy; I am just never sated (sated being a cooler way of saying satisfied). Never being sated means I always have a reason to keep going - a reason to do better. In 1999, Steve Waugh captained one of the greatest test cricket teams of all time, and he wrote a book called Never Satisfied, and he never was, and his cover drive just kept getting better. 2. Away from the appointment, if that’s possible, what do you do to relax or unwind? The other day I found this old guy on YouTube who visits country towns in NSW and makes a little travel documentary at each one. He said in one video that he lives in his van and is technically homeless. I'm not sure if this is a happy thing or a sad thing. Is he lonely? Is he poor? Or has he chosen this life and it’s a joyous thing for him to be roaming free across rural NSW. I've been thinking about it a lot. What I reckon is he has made the best of a hard situation; he has made lemonade from lemons. I hope that is what is happening. Bless his wandering soul. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? ‘As the Water Covers The Sea’ – Nick Cave 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 once met a man on a bus who said he was the prophet Elijah. He told me very quietly, like he didn’t want anyone else to know. He had a ragged beard and long hair, so he looked a bit like Elijah, but it definitely wasn't him. We only talked for a short while before some ticket inspectors came on and he got very nervous; he jumped off at Campsie, and I never saw him again. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? If you look good in polo shirts – become an officer, we wear a lot of polo shorts. I don't like polo shirts; when I wear them, I look like I work at the local pool or something. They just don't suit me. But they suit some people, and if you are an officer you get to wear heaps of them. It’s a feature of the work people don’t talk about much. Did you know that The Salvation Army were the first people to put words on clothing? That’s a serious innovation. So clever. I hope they adhered to the branding guidelines. But yes, become a Salvation Army officer; there are souls that need saving, and The Salvation Army needs officers to be busy saving them. The gates of hell are wide open; that side of things is sorted. We in the Army need to fling wide the heavenly gates. That means you becoming an officer. Sign up today. More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.

Tara with her paintings at the Warrondi Engage and Link (WEL) Day Program art exhibition. Image: Kirralee Nicolle BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE When Tara Baggendorf first entered the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (ADAC) rehabilitation facility in Whitmore Square, Adelaide just under two years ago, she had very little understanding of how addiction could appear in its various forms. As someone who was experiencing alcohol addiction and who had grown up with a mother who faced alcoholism, she hadn’t seen much of the impact of drug addiction. “That’s very different,” she said. “It's also a part of life I didn't really have much of an understanding [about], and I think the withdrawal is very different. So, when you've got people [experiencing] different withdrawals in such a small place, that was also very eye-opening.” Not only were Tara’s eyes opened, but she experienced a new kind of grief through watching the journeys of others. I got to hear some of her story at an art exhibition in Adelaide CBD featuring work of Tara and other TSA clients. The ADAC centre is connected to The Salvation Army’s Warrondi Engage and Link (WEL) Day program. “I lost the only person that I got close to in rehab very shortly after she got out,” Tara said. “To bury her was big. She was also an incredibly artistic person. She would love to have been here today.” Tara (left) with her friend Rach, who passed away shortly after leaving the ADAC program. Image: Supplied Outside of rehabilitation, Tara runs a thriving olive and pistachio farm in Port Wakefield, SA. Having spent a lot of her life on the land, she describes herself as outdoorsy and a hard worker. Along with that lifestyle, though, and a history of alcoholism in her family line, she found as she approached her 50s – the decade in which her mother died of alcoholism – that she was drinking much more than she wanted to be. She developed pancreatitis and realised her muscle tone and general health were suffering. Tara also felt that she wasn’t being present for her adult daughter like she wanted to be. Alcohol was taking over her life. After a consultation with a general practitioner and then a drug and alcohol worker, she was referred to ADAC, where she then stayed for three months. There, through the WEL Day program, for the first time she discovered gym and weights training, which helped her to improve her muscle mass. She also discovered art. “You just wouldn't believe how much you look forward to cooking and art and gym [when in rehab],” she said. “I'd never been to a gym in my life, and I'd never painted in my life. And when I first went into rehab, I just did colouring-in and I made cards for people, and I'd never painted until [WEL program art teacher Leah Jeffries] said, ‘Why don't you try painting?’ And I thought, ‘Well, why not?’ “I didn't have much to lose. Leah is an amazing art teacher, and she is very encouraging.” Tara with one of her first paintings, from the cover of a Stephen King novel she had been reading. Image: Supplied Tara began with acrylics, painting outdoor scenes, including the cover of a Stephen King novel. Then, she moved onto oils and began painting small canvases as gifts rather than giving birthday cards. “I just find it a really personal and therapeutic way to express myself,” she said. At the art exhibition, Tara stood in front of the crowd and explained the story behind her work, telling how the WEL program art classes had made a profound difference to her life amid a difficult time. But it hasn’t all been easy. Since leaving the ADAC facility, Tara has had many ups and downs, including times she said she found herself at “rock bottom”. “While I was in rehab, everyone's going, ‘Oh, you must be so excited. It's time to get out. It's like getting out of jail.’ And I knew that my biggest challenge was when I got home. My husband's a fairly heavy drinker, so I'm still [surrounded by] alcohol. I knew I had to go back into an environment which is probably harder,” she said. “The whole 19 years of our relationship up until then had been with both of us drinking, so I knew that that was going to be a big challenge.” The paintings Tara has done since leaving ADAC. Images: Supplied But despite the challenges, Tara has worked through them, alongside her ADAC and WEL program case workers and art teacher Leah. She now has a thriving relationship with her daughter, and her health has improved. She still regularly attends art classes, and stays connected to the gym and other programs offered in Whitmore Square. “I just love that that support is still there,” she said. “I can still go back and do any of the art or speak to them, and that is priceless. “To feel good within myself, mentally and physically, is absolutely amazing.”

Responders from The Salvation Army's International Emergency Services team in Nepal following the 2015 earthquake. Image: The Salvation Army Emergency Services With landslides and flooding in Nepal and Tibet, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas has written a prayer for those missing and grieving loved ones, as well as emergency services and those helping on the ground. Below is a letter sent by Miriam, with the text of the prayer following. Dear friends, I woke this morning with a heavy heart. Overnight, devastating flash floods struck communities along the Nepal-China border. Lives have been lost. Many people are still missing. Homes, roads and entire communities have been swept away, and I keep thinking about the families. Those waiting for news. Those who know their lives will never be the same. Those facing another day with uncertainty, grief and fear. When tragedies like this happen, words can feel inadequate and prayer is the only place to begin. I invite you to join me in praying for the people of Nepal. Pray for those who are grieving. Pray for those still searching for loved ones. Pray for rescue workers and emergency responders. Pray for The Salvation Army teams and partner organisations who are already seeking to bring practical help and hope. Today, let us stand with the people of Nepal in spirit. Let us ask God to bring comfort, strength and hope in the midst of unimaginable loss. Holding Nepal in prayer with you, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas Territorial Commander A prayer for Nepal Loving God, Today our hearts break for the people of Nepal. We see images of devastation, but You see every individual story. Every family. Every loss. Every fear. Lord, be especially close to those who are grieving. Comfort those who are waiting for news. Strengthen those who are exhausted. Protect those working in rescue and recovery efforts. Where there is fear, bring peace. Where there is despair, bring hope. Where there is loss, bring the assurance of Your presence. May those who feel overwhelmed know that they are not alone. And may Your people across the world respond with compassion and generosity. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. We will provide more updates on The Salvation Army's response to the Nepal floods as they become available, and you can follow news from The Salvation Army International to keep updated.

The team that participated in the training at Box Hill. Image: Supplied BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE Box Hill Corps, in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, recently hosted an Occupational Violence and Aggressive De-escalation Training Day for its staff and volunteers. The training, held on 29 July, went for most of the day, with 20 staff and volunteers, including Corps Officer Major Karyn Wishart. Karyn said as someone with a background in education, she believed training was paramount, and it was important to ensure all personnel were actively improving their skills and learning new things together. She said it was also valuable to have a follow-up conversation after the training during their usual staff meeting, where the team discussed the concept of people being like an iceberg – that we need to take responsibility in how we see the whole person and not just what is visually presented in front of us. “Sometimes our own biases can get in the way of actually helping people,” Karyn said. “So, how can we make sure we are conscious of [there being] a whole iceberg underneath, representing all the things that we don’t know about a person. “Those types of conversations are important, they help us keep ourselves in check so we don’t get complacent in how we serve people. “We want to make sure we’re serving people to the best of our ability. We want them to come in, be made to feel welcome, seen, heard and for them to actually find hope from coming into this place. “So, we need to keep ourselves and the team in check to make sure we’re being the most compassionate, loving, gracious team; so that when people can come in, they feel like their lives have been impacted for the good by The Salvation Army and not have had a different type of experience.” Images: Supplied. She said it was great to see our staff and volunteers from a wide range of life experiences getting involved – some who have worked in high-capacity roles in the past and others who may never have encountered people facing substance use before. “It was a good day for everyone to be in the room to openly chat about past difficult situations that the team had been faced with, to discuss how we would deal with them differently if they were to happen again, and how we could possibly prevent events from becoming a possibility in the future,” she said. Karyn said the team were more frequently interacting with members of the public experiencing mental health distress or presenting under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The fact is that we are seeing this happen every day. “It’s really important for us to make sure that people discuss and work through how they – personally and as a team – can confidently deal with all sorts of different scenarios,” she said.

Since launching in January, Colac’s monthly Sunday afternoon gathering, The Way Collective – a discipleship experience – has drawn people who wouldn’t typically walk into a church and is giving new and growing believers the opportunity to mature in their faith. (Photos: Ismael Paramo, Unsplash) BY LERISSE SMITH It was an epic treasure hunt with a big difference. The clues? The Bible. The prize? A fresh way of seeing church. At Colac Corps in Victoria, a group of people set out to discover the different places and circumstances in which the Gospel was preached, taught and experienced. But the imaginative activity wasn’t just another church event. It was part of a bold step to reimagine a new monthly Sunday program, a significant shift in the way the corps understands and does church, a change that is opening exciting new possibilities for faith, community and mission. Since launching in January, the afternoon gathering, The Way Collective* – a “discipleship experience” – has drawn people who wouldn’t typically walk into a church, those with histories of addiction, incarceration, trauma, illiteracy and long-term social instability. “They are loving it,” says Josiah Van Niekerk, Colac Corps Leader. “All sorts of life issues prevent them from being able to swallow what most churches are handing out. So, for us, it’s a really great way to say: let’s talk about things like speaking in tongues, or combating gossip, or pornography, or whatever we need to talk about in a way that is consumable and applicable to their lives.” Josiah Van Niekerk, Corps Leader of Colac Corps, says the exciting new discipleship experience is designed to help people learn and live the way of Jesus in everyday life. The deliberately chosen name echoes the earliest description of the Christian movement. More than a program, it’s a discipleship experience designed to help people learn and live the way of Jesus in everyday life. “We’re a Christian movement that’s here to build faith pathways, to build healthy communities, fight for justice and care for people,” reflects Josiah, as he talks about the new initiative. “That’s our scope.” Rather than following a fixed format, the monthly gathering is designed around what people attending can engage with and experience. And at the most recent gathering, the Corps Leader chose a treasure hunt. Different settings were explored in which the Gospel appears in the Gospels and Letters. Of seven settings he identified, only one was the kind of religious environment Christians today might immediately recognise – a synagogue. The others included the road to Emmaus in the marketplace, being with family and friends and shared meals. “Most of the times that we hear about the Gospel being spoken or being lived isn’t in the synagogue,” Josiah explains. “There’s a place for that. But there’s a place for the others too. It’s understanding where that sits within your context and within your picture.” And that discovery has become a picture for Colac Corps – that church is not confined to a particular day, program, or building. It’s very transient how the week rolls with what programs are on, the Corps Leader says, adding that some are completely locked in and some are being tweaked and experimented with to see what works and where it ultimately leads. During the week, people from different churches gather at the corps for prayer at 8am each morning. There are also Bible studies, worship, breakfast ministry, and connections with schools. Salvos seminars are also being explored. A key driver for the emerging model is centred around ‘the priesthood of all believers’ – people from different churches bringing their gifts, interests, and ideas to the corps. One group is developing an art group with a strong discipleship focus, using Discovery Bible Studies to explore Scripture together. Another group is bringing worshippers from different churches together for Wednesday morning worship. Attendees at Colac Salvos’ The Way Collective are loving the new way of doing church with friendship and fellowship helping forge strong connections and an openness to share life with one another. (Photo: Pexels; Erika Giraud, Unsplash) It’s an exciting time for all those involved – especially not being stuck in religiosity. “God has just flung all the doors open,” Josiah says. “And all the different believers from different expressions that are just eager to be able to express the kingdom of God and to have a medium to express it through here at the corps. We’ve got five churches that we’re partnered with and working with them to help them be energised in similar ways and for them to find their scope and for them to find the community that they’re supposed to minister to … so, that’s been really cool.” The biggest confirmation of this new direction, however, came during prayer and a special vision given to the Corps Leader. The vision was of churches, Christian missions and other gatherings of believers travelling along a highway at night. Each was represented by a car, its headlights shining into the darkness. Occasionally, the cars encountered someone on the road. But beyond the highway were vast desert dunes filled with millions of people. “You can’t see them, you can’t hear them, because you’re flogging along on the highway,” Josiah reflects. “And over these last 18 months, I’ve been trying to bring us towards the shoulder of this highway … We all felt like we needed to grab the wheel and yank us off into the desert dunes. There are too many people out there lost.” In the vision, a few other cars were already out among the desert dunes – churches and Christian communities willing to leave the familiar road and go where people were located. The image was reminiscent of William Booth’s lighthouse imagery for Josiah, becoming a powerful confirmation of where he was heading for the monthly gathering. That change has also altered how he sees his own role. Colac Corps has been embracing the A.P.E.S.T framework (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds and Teachers), helping him step more fully into an apostolic role of seeing the bigger picture and creating space for others to lead. And one of the most exciting things, he adds, is watching new believers step up. He recently heard about three new Christians with a big heart for evangelism who want to walk the local streets wearing t-shirts with the following slogan on the back ‘touch my shoulder if you want to be prayed for’. The idea is not to shout at or pressure people, but simply to be “amazing, kind Christians” who are approachable and ready to pray, the Corps Leader adds. They are looking to be called The Hope Team. And the significance is bigger than one evangelism project. “It just gives new and growing believers an opportunity to mature,” Josiah explains. A key driver for the emerging model is centred around ‘the priesthood of all believers’ - people from different churches bringing their gifts, interests, and ideas to the corps. (Photo: Ketut Subiyanto, Pexels) “Oftentimes we need to give them a chance to mature … The big thing is seeing new believers coming in and making public declarations of their faith and then seeing them actually being able to develop and grow as a leader in their skilling and the gifts that God’s given them. And for us as other leaders to be able to say, that they can do that. I don’t need to do that.” Ultimately, the journey of The Way Collective has brought people back to Scripture, he adds, and to the example of the early church and its engagement with local communities. “The whole crux of who we are is trying to do those early church expressions of faith - not the Western way that it’s been done,” the Corps Leader says. “A lot of the people that The Salvation Army works with, the Western Way (of doing work in a formulaic structured approach) doesn’t work because they are extremely complex and oftentimes are extremely broken. They need touch points – and The Way Collective gives them that.” *The Way Collective is a different program to the The Way, the Australia Territory’s spiritual focus for 2026

Every Friday, The Salvation Army in Hamilton (NSW) welcomes people experiencing homelessness, social isolation, financial hardship, and the challenges of rising living costs. Through partnerships with Streetside Medics and Orange Sky, visitors can access a hot meal, friendly conversation, healthcare, and practical support all in one welcoming place. “There’s always someone here to give you a helping hand. All the volunteers here are God’s helpers,” says community member Graham.

In the fourth of a series spotlighting this year’s cadets of the Rescued session, Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH chatted with Caleb Gorringe about dressing up as a pastor in Year 2, his passion for seeing lives transformed, being a nerdy sci-fi movie fan – and his penchant for a good sausage roll! Caleb, rewind for us … when did the call to officership hit, and what made you say that big ‘yes’? I remember very distinctly being in Year 2 at school when they did a careers day and all my friends dressed up as firefighters and policemen – and I was there dressed up as a pastor! My parents were officers, so it’s always been a thing in my heart from a young age. As a teenager, my heart grew away from God, but as an early young adult, I came back to the Lord. He renewed that passion in me. Where are you serving at the moment - and what’s your role? I’m at Parramatta Corps (NSW) as a cadet along with my wife, Jess – and learning the ropes. Enjoying a day out with his wife, Jess – a fellow cadet – and their son, Joey. Any standout moments that are shaping you as a future officer? Not so much moments as an ongoing opportunity each day to step into the footprint of officership and who God wants me to be by being immersed in this environment. So, it’s more a process of development than individual flashpoints that I can think of. Something that’s shaping me at the moment is a real deepening in my fasting and prayer life. It came out of setting spiritual goals at the beginning of the year and working on those practices. When I look back at the past six months, doing that practice has been a big thing in shaping me for my future. Where are you feeling stretched right now? Everything is being stretched! It’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. It’s making room for the new. There are so many competing emotions, tensions and responsibilities battling for my time and for my space. I’m hoping that I’m learning well to tread water and to balance them all well. Balance how do I rest? What’s most important? What do I need to do now? What can wait? How do I hold this person? All of that is part and parcel for this season. What strengths do you lean on most? My faith. I wouldn’t necessarily call it maybe a strength, but it is a bedrock and foundation of what allows me to make it through each day. If I’m being more specific about some of the giftings, or I feel God has given me, I think it would be a deep heart for people. I lean on relationship and I lean on a curiosity to be involved in people’s lives and to care and to love on people. I think doing that has helped me land well in this corps space. I’ve been able to learn and lead from that. Creating LEGO masterpieces is one of Caleb’s great passions in life. What focus areas of officership really fire you up – and why? Three things really fire me up – discipleship, small groups, and recovery, such as AOD. I love seeing people move into Jesus-centred, holistic flourishing. I love seeing lives transformed and people reach their full potential as they take their next steps. I love doing those journeys with people and seeing people get the most out of life. If you could design your dream appointment today, what would it look like – and who would you most like to impact? I think my dream appointment would be a corps, which makes sense because I’m going to be an officer. I love doing life with people. I want to see everyday people in love with God and in love with life and passionate about Him and the world – and getting the most out of it. The transition from grey to colour. I want to see people at their best. And just for fun … when you switch off, what do you love doing? I love a good movie. I love sci-fi movies such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I love all those nerdy things. I love a great walk. I love to walk and talk with people either in the bush or at the beach. I like Lego, and I love hanging out with my son, Joseph. READ MORE: Rescued and ready to go!

Major Aaron Stobie leads the adults timbrels rehearsal at the Hong Kong Territorial Music Institute. “Different culture, different language, different approaches but the same Jesus and the same mission.” BY LAUREN MARTIN Four Australian Salvationists who have just returned from the Hong Kong and Macau Territorial Music Institute say their eyes have been opened to the powerful way that worship transcends cultural barriers. Julia Roper, The Salvation Army Australia Worship Arts Team Leader and Band/Vocal National Leader, led a team to assist with teaching and training at the Institute. The team included Major Aaron Stobie (Corps Officer from Perth Fortress Corps), Jo Ineson (from Balga Corps) and Ethan Billman (from Ringwood Corps and the Melbourne Staff Band). “As well as leading the mission trip, it was my role to empower and develop these three very fine leaders,” she said. Together, they led adult and children’s songster groups, jazz bands, dance and timbrel groups. Julia Roper leads the kids band rehearsal at the Hong Kong Territorial Music Institute. Stepping into challenges The team said they were challenged in a good way by seeing participants enthusiastically take on learning different techniques and new ways of worship. Ethan Billman, who led the jazz band component for adults and children, said that because jazz isn’t particularly common within The Salvation Army in Hong Kong, he didn’t know “how people would respond to it.” “But rather than being hesitant about it, there was a real passion to learn … The response wasn’t, ‘We don’t do that here.’ It was, ‘Okay, let’s have a go.’ That challenged me. Hong Kong Territorial Music Institute adult band rehearsal, conducted by Julia Roper. “I want to bring some of that hunger back into the different musical and ministry settings I’m involved in. Not just a desire to be better musicians for the sake of being better musicians, but to keep growing so that we can use what God has given us as effectively as possible for His Kingdom.” He also learned that even with language and cultural differences, “music gave us an immediate connection.” “I went over hoping that I might be able to contribute something and help others develop musically, but I think I came home having learnt just as much myself.” Typhoons and heavy rain couldn’t dampen Aaron’s joy Major Aaron Stobie leading the adults choir rehearsal at the Hong Kong Territorial Music Institute. For Major Aaron Stobie, who led the adult and children’s songsters and timbrels, the experience was one of pure joy and an expansion of his understanding of God. “There were so many moments where I was reminded that, while cultures and languages may be different, God is still God, his Spirit is still at work, and he is constantly finding ways to connect us with one another and with him.” Despite arriving in Hong Kong during a level 8 typhoon, the rain couldn’t dampen Aaron’s enthusiasm. When he told his hosts he wanted to experience full cultural immersion, he was awed by the sights and by Hong Kong cuisine (even chicken feet!). He said he did his best to learn some of the language. “I loved seeing both the similarities and the differences in The Salvation Army in Hong Kong … What a privilege it is to belong to something so much bigger than ourselves while sharing the same heart, mission and passion for Jesus wherever we are in the world!” Giving God our best (Left) Timbrel rehearsal at the Hong Kong Territorial Music Institute; and (right) Jazz Band rehearsal. Leading the dance segment and assisting with other areas of the Institute, Jo Ineson was struck by the absolute determination of those attending to “give God their best”. “This challenged me to reflect on how we approach ministry and service,” she said. “Sometimes we can struggle to maintain that same level of dedication and excellence in our personal ministry. I hope to bring back a renewed focus on encouraging people to give their best to our God who deserves our very best.” She said the children, young people and adults from the Institute, as well as all Salvationists from the Hong Kong and Macau Territory, would remain in her prayers. “As they navigate changes within their country that may impact the freedom to openly express and practise their Christian faith, it is important that we stand alongside them in prayer. We pray that children and young people will grow up equipped to live out their faith boldly and openly, and that future generations of believers will continue to flourish.” Performance time ... (left) the timbrels, and (right) the combined choir. Hong Kong and Macau Territorial Leaders, Colonels Deslea and Philip Maxwell (front row) with fellow Aussies Julia Roper, Jo Ineson, Major Aaron Stobie and Ethan Billman.

The Korea Territory includes the nations of Cambodia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Mongolia and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Each week through 2026, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for the same territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (24-31 August) we pray for The Salvation Army in the Korea Territory. This territory has 819 officers (475 active, 344 retired); 5 Aux-Captains; 5 envoys; 10 cadets; 193 corps; 13 societies and outposts; 44,897 senior soldiers; 3206 adherents; 6063 junior soldiers; 1860 employees. Australian officers, Captains Star Conliffe and Charlie Jung are currently serving in Korea as assistant corps officers at Daejeon Central Corps, a church of about 300 people in a large city in the centre of Korea. Commissioners Kim, Byung-Yoon and Cha, Soon-Sam lead the territory. The work of the Korea Territory includes: Emergency relief Support for disabled people Older people's homes Modern slavery and human trafficking response. The Salvation Army in Korea has been walking a consistent path of love with marginalised neighbours for over 100 years. Today, the territory also has outreach programs in Mongolia and Cambodia. Prayer requests: · Pray that, in alignment with the 2026 territorial theme, 'Witness Through Your Life', all officers and soldiers will testify to God's love, Jesus' service and the Holy Spirit's power through their daily lives. · We pray for the abundant provision of human resources for the territory's mission. May there be a rise in young people dedicating themselves to officership, and may dedicated local leaders and local officers be raised up to support the ministry. · We pray for the physical health and spiritual renewal of all officers. May they reaffirm their identity and sense of responsibility as leaders, serving with a spirituality of holiness. · May The Salvation Army remain keenly sensitive to social needs and the demands of the current era, never turning a blind eye to the marginalised and suffering. · We pray for the sustainable development of territorial assets to secure necessary resources. May transparent and effective financial management ensure the long-term sustainability of our ministries. · We pray for God’s anointing upon the 10,000 Visionaries Project, a five-year plan implemented since 2025. Through this project, may dedicated soldiers arise day by day, empowering the mission of The Salvation Army Korea to expand with great strength. · We pray for the firm establishment of The Salvation Army's identity in Cambodia. May sustainable long-term policies be developed, and fruitful cooperation with government agencies and the provision of vital resources be achieved. To find out more about the Korea Territory, click here. To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, and to download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here.