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Sue Hodges (left) with Shirli Congoo and Lucy Davis at the recent Yakila Conference. Image: File BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE The Salvation Army’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and Projects Manager, Lucy Davis, has recently begun a 12-month secondment outside The Salvation Army. Lucy, a proud Cobble Cobble woman from the Burrungum Nation Western Downs area of Queensland, has led TSA through the Innovate RAP begun in 2020, and now the recent launch of the Stretch RAP . While Lucy’s secondment will enable her to deepen her knowledge of policy and advocacy, an area about which she is very passionate, Sue Hodges, who has been TSA’s NSW/ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator, is stepping into Lucy’s role as Acting RAP and Projects Manager for the period of Lucy’s leave. Sue Hodges has been a part of the RAP from its inception and was an artist on both the Innovate and Stretch RAPs, as well as involved in the yarning circles for each one. She said she is excited to take on the new responsibility and is most looking forward to being able to focus on the RAP. “[Until now], all of the other things have been front and centre, and the RAP has been on the periphery, but now it’s shifted,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to working with the allies, and definitely keen to look at how we can strengthen what people are doing and maybe look at areas where we can support.” Sue said she is excited that the number of people signing up for the Reconciliation Ally ‘Guuyungs’ (camps/circles) is steadily growing. “This is what reconciliation is about, black fullas and white fullas’ business, ‘us’ working together,” she said. “I won’t be doing this alone, I will have allies who will be able to help.” The Salvation Army is very thankful to Lucy for her contributions and is excited to welcome Sue’s leadership during the next year. The NSW/ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator role will be filled internally, with First Nations peoples across the Salvation Army encouraged to apply for this fixed term role. The role will be advertised internally in due course. ​ For questions regarding the RAP, please email RAP@salvationarmy.org.au  or visit the RAP Toolkit .

General Lyndon and Commissoner Bronwyn Buckingham recently visited their home territory of New Zealand. “Firstly, we want to thank you all for the outpouring of love and support,” wrote General Lyndon Buckingham on his personal Facebook page. “Your prayers and words of encouragement have meant so much to us. Thank you!   “I want to express gratitude to cardiologist, Dr Ko Yiu Kwan, a beautiful man of faith, whose expertise and skill made him the right man at the right time. Thank You, Dr Kwan!   “Once cleared to fly, Commissioner Bronwyn and I will return to New Zealand for some rest, re-set and restoration. I will work from home, staying in regular contact with the Chief of the Staff (COS), chairing appropriate Boards online and preparing for upcoming events.   “I am thankful to God for Commissioner Hill, COS, for his leadership and support. Thank you, Chief! We give praise and glory to the Lord for His healing power and grace towards us. To quote a famous actor - ‘I’ll be back!’ Watch this space!”   Grace and Peace, Lyndon and Bronwyn

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 ( 27 October-2 November ), we pray for the Mozambique Territory.   Colonels Fikile and Jabulani Khoza lead the Mozambique Territory.   The Mozambique Territory has 67 officers (62 active and 5 retired); 10 cadets; 60 corps; 39 outposts; 8988 senior soldiers; 221 adherents; 1449 junior soldiers; 19 employees; 2300 people helped with emergency relief in 2024.   The Salvation Army has been in Mozambique since 1916 – a vibrant community working to bring hope, care and support to those who need it most.   The work of the territory includes: Emergency response Sustainable agriculture Modern slavery and human trafficking response   Praise points: We thank God for his faithfulness and provision throughout the Territory.   We thank God for the entry of 10 cadets at the training college in the Proclaimers of Transformation session    Prayer requests for our nation: Peace and reconciliation: Pray for lasting peace and reconciliation among different political and social groups in Mozambique.   End to armed violence: Pray for an end to armed violence in the northern region of the country, asking for divine protection over affected communities.   Protection from natural disasters: Pray for divine protection and effective preparedness against natural disasters that frequently impact the territory.   Prayer requests for our territory: Financial sustainability: Pray for financial stability and sustainability of our corps to continue the mission effectively.   Spiritual revival: Pray for a genuine spiritual revival and renewed passion for God among all Salvationists. Strengthening of leadership: Pray for spiritual strength and wisdom for our leaders and all officers as they guide the mission.   Success of remaining activities: Pray for the success of all activities still to be carried out this year, that they may fulfil their spiritual and community purposes.   Women’s rallies: Pray that the women’s rallies to be held in divisions and sections will have a positive and transformative impact on the communities involved. To find out more about the Mozambique Territory, click here . To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here .   To download the 2025 International Prayer Focus schedule, click here .

To read Nellie’s Promoted to Glory notice and appointment history, click here

Benalla Corps Officers Captains Ben and Jaimee Anderson (left) join in the celebration of cutting the ribbon at the official opening of their refurbished facilities together with Captain Fleur Hodge (Area Officer), Commissioner  Miriam Gluyas (Territorial Commander), Major Mal Davies (Divisional Commander), and Benalla Rural City Deputy Mayor, Cr Justin King. BY LERISSE SMITH   It took 14 years of planning – but it was well worth the wait.     When Benalla Corps flung open its doors and switched on the lights for the grand reopening of its revitalised, expanded facilities in Victoria earlier this month, it marked not just a major milestone but also 140 years of unwavering service to the local community.   “We are wonderfully excited about returning home,” said Captain Ben Anderson, Corps Officer at Benalla.   “Our excitement comes from recognising that God has been at work amongst us all this time. The corps has not been still waiting for facilities to be completed to move as God leads.”   The weekend of 4-5 October became a double celebration for the corps community with Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Territorial Commander, officially opening the new premises to the glory of God, and Ringwood Citadel Band presenting a special concert to commemorate 140 years of The Salvation Army in Benalla. A historical display provided a meaningful backdrop to the event. Corps Officer Captain Ben Anderson (left), Jean Quick (Benalla’s longest serving soldier) and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas unveil a plaque at the grand reopening of the corps’ revitalised facilities.  The new expanded facility is set to significantly extend the corps’ reach into the community.   Food relief, case work and community gatherings are now offered three days each week in the new premises. New shower and laundry amenities provide vital support and an option for people experiencing homelessness and in emergency situations. A purpose-built space streamlines food deliveries. This year, the corps will also host its Christmas Cheer program in partnership with the Tomorrow Today Foundation and Ray White Benalla.   Ben’s wife, Captain Jaimee Anderson, said the buzz of excitement from the community was palpable.   “There was a lot of joy, a lot of excitement from the community about looking around and seeing the new facilities,” she said, adding that several local groups had shown interest in partnering with the corps.   Vision for the future But behind the celebration lay years of perseverance and planning.   Back in 2011, Benalla Corps purchased 83 Bridge St West, the property adjacent to the corps hall. At the time, the corps was growing beyond the capacity of the current hall opened in 1991. Known as the ‘Mission House’, it became a hub for children’s ministries, small groups, women’s and men’s groups, prayer and meditation.   Yet the Mission House was only ever a stopgap.   A redevelopment vision for the site included adding a new worship hall and reconfiguring the current hall for various other ministries.   However, those plans stalled unexpectedly due to pressing needs of other corps, shifting divisional boundaries, changes in officership and a plateau in the corps’ growth. (Left) A historical display of Benalla Corps’ 140-year history provided a meaningful backdrop to the two-day celebratory event. (Right) Getting into the spirit of the special occasion was Benalla soldier Helen Daldy, who dressed in traditional women’s Army uniform in keeping with the celebration of the corps’ 140th anniversary.   A turning point came under the leadership of Captains Rachel and Sean Attard, when the Doorways model of emergency relief began at Benalla. Food relief services moved from the Thrift Shop into the corps building, and case work began – laying a foundation for a new ministry direction and setting Benalla on a path towards the newly launched facility.   In 2018, as newly commissioned officers, Jaimee and Ben began their corps officer roles with the aim of putting into practice the learnings gained from their officer training.   “Two pieces of advice stood out to us: find the heart of the corps – what drives them and motivates them and excites them; and get to know your community and find out their pressing needs,” Ben reflected.   “Early in our time here, we discerned that Doorways ministry was at the heart of the corps; and that the community around us was in desperate need of a safe, welcoming space where people felt like they belonged.”   Energised by that clarity, they hit the ground running with a bold idea in their first few weeks as officers. They proposed turning the Mission House into a drop-in space and a place to strengthen their Doorways food relief and case work activities. This idea became another important driver of the building project.   But translating a vision into reality proved challenging.   A 2019 property audit flagged limitations with the building for the drop-in space, and renovations were deemed too costly for a site with limited longevity. Then COVID-19 struck. Together with lockdowns and social distancing rules, the Mission House programs ceased, prompting serious discussions about building a new space. Ringwood Corps singers Julia Roper (left) Sara Hamilton, Kylie Hamilton, Eva Hamilton, Jeffrey Clarke, Ethan Billman and Jon Still entertained the community gathered for Benalla’s special weekend. Homeward bound But then came good news: initial funding was approved in December 2020 with construction finally beginning in October 2024. Benalla Corps moved its ministry to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church until the redevelopment was completed.   And there was much excitement about returning home.   Ben said not only had God been at work among the corps during the redevelopment, but they moved as God led them.   Testament to this was that the drop-in space idea never left them, with the idea of a Sanctuary bearing great fruit when the Doorways model of care changed once again.   “Suddenly, an activity that had perhaps 15 people come each week had 60, then 70, then 80 people attending across two sessions a week,” he said.   “When we moved out of 85 Bridge St West, around 90 people attended Sanctuary each week – bring on the new building! We expected that our time away from home may see a shrinking of our congregation. God had other plans. In a smaller space, our Sanctuary attendance has averaged over 100 people in the past few months.   “On Monday, September 22 (this year), 71 people came through our doors in two and a half hours, some to get food, others for case work, some simply to have a coffee and a friendly chat or play a game. The safe space for community is no longer a vision – it’s a reality.”   The time away also sparked new ideas.   New worship formats emerged, including a weekly community table called ‘Food for Thought’ – a lunchtime gathering where people explore life’s deeper questions through the lens of faith and how they might connect with Jesus. One Sunday a month became ‘Family Fun Sunday’, with kids and adults learning together about God through activities and storytelling.   “God has brought some of these folk into our congregation every Sunday since,” Ben remarked. “We give God all the glory and praise, celebrating that he has primed us for filling this brand-new building! We look forward to all God has in store for us.” Ringwood Citadel Band were the special musical guests for the Benalla weekend.   The corps already has ideas for expanding its reach into the community, he added, with activities that range from explicitly Christian to broadly community-oriented – yet all seeking the holistic transformation of lives that Salvos believe comes from the love of Jesus.   “Our hope is that it’s a holistic approach that we are trying to take by providing a safe space for folk to come in where they can have a free coffee, something to eat, a conversation, play a game, see our case manager, or talk with our chaplain,” Jaimee explained.   “That they are able to build relationships and see that they are cared for in more ways than just in a material aid sense.”   And part of the excitement ahead lies in continuing to welcome everyone – a hallmark of the Benalla community.   There is great hope that the corps’ new large multi-purpose space will act as a unifying hub.   “Everybody owns that space,” said Jaimee. “And everybody can come together in that one room and feel that belonging and ownership in that space.” Click through the slideshow below for more photos of the weekend celebrations:

To read Alan’s Promoted to Glory notice and appointment history, click here

To read Shirley’s Promoted to Glory notice and officer appointment history, click here

One of the outdoor seating areas in the new garden. Image: Supplied BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE A garden refurbishment  at a Salvation Army community housing program in Melbourne has recently been completed, in collaboration with Bunnings Warehouse, the local council and a school group. The garden upgrade, managed by TSA Housing Worker Duan Qiong, was completed in stages, with the first involving the upgrading of outdoor furniture and garden beds, as well as some new plants. The final stage involved weeding, adding mulch, fixing items around the house and adding multiple seating areas and lounge chairs outside. The program operates out of a privately-owned home, catering for those over the age of 55 who might otherwise find themselves homeless. The final stage of the project was completed in collaboration with the Homelessness East Metro Homeless Outreach Program, alongside Bunnings, who provided tools, assistance from staff, donations of plants from the store, technical knowledge and advice. The Bunnings team also mobilised a team of 20 teenagers from Blackburn High School to assist with the work. Mulch and ground covering materials were donated by Whitehorse City Council. The Salvation Army also provided assistance from staff and volunteers throughout the stages of the process and catered for the volunteers on site. Duan said the outcome of the project was beyond her expectations, and in her eyes, it was an “11 out of 10”. She said the property owner was also happy with the outcome. She said a former resident who had been involved in the project had contacted her and thanked her for the time that she had gotten to spend in the house, which she said is feedback they don’t get very often. “It means [residents feel] a sense of belonging, and creates a community area for everybody to hang out and get to know each other,” Duan said. “And it’s a healthy and safe space.” All images courtesy Duan Qiong.

Salvation Army personnel bring relief to communities impacted by the recent earthquake in Cebu Province, Philippines. Following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu Province on 30 September, The Salvation Army in the Philippines has provided emergency aid to 978 families in Bogo City, distributing rice, water, canned goods, soap and detergent. “We saw the joy on their faces as they received this blessing,” shared Captain James-Mark Casidsid. This compassionate response was made possible through the leadership of Captain Casidsid, with support from Metro Cebu Cluster corps officers, DHQ staff, volunteers and Barangay personnel. The earthquake has claimed  69 lives, injured more than 200 and displaced thousands. More than 3.36 million people have been affected.

Salvos Online  continues a new weekly column – Three Books. Today’s guest bookworm is Captain Duane Albino, who is the Corps Officer at Albany in Western Australia. Besides the gospels and Psalms, which is your favourite book in the Bible and why? Alright ... let’s talk Jonah . The book of Jonah is one of the shortest in the Bible, but it’s like reading a divine sitcom with eternal stakes. You’ve got a prophet who literally gets an assignment from God – “Go to Nineveh, tell them to repent.” Jonah’s response? “Yeah, nah.” He buys a ticket on a ship heading in the opposite direction. That’s like being told to go to Sydney and booking a flight to Iceland. It’s hilarious, it’s tragic, and somehow, it’s us. Every time we ghost God’s call because it’s inconvenient, we’re just Jonah without the seaweed. Then the storm hits. The sailors are panicking, throwing cargo overboard, praying to any god who’ll pick up the phone, and there’s Jonah, snoring below deck. They wake him up, he admits it’s his fault, and tells them to toss him into the ocean. He’s not even trying to fix it; he’d rather drown than obey. The drama! The passive-aggressiveness! If Netflix turned Jonah into a mini-series, I’d binge it twice. And then, just when it can’t get weirder, a giant fish shows up like Uber Eats with bad timing. Jonah gets swallowed whole, spends three days in the stomach of grace, and finally decides to pray. But the punchline is what happens next. He finally preaches to Nineveh – probably the most half-hearted sermon in history – and the whole city repents. Like, everyone. Even the cows wear sackcloth. And Jonah? He’s furious. He literally sulks under a plant because God was too merciful. It’s divine comedy wrapped in human stubbornness. You can’t make it up. Jonah’s honestly one of the most underrated gems in Scripture; it’s like divine comedy meets deep theology. What gets me is that Jonah isn’t really about a man and a fish; it’s about a God who refuses to give up on people who don’t deserve a second chance, including the prophet himself. It’s a story of grace so wide it makes you uncomfortable, and that’s what I love. Because if God can use a runaway prophet, a storm, and a sea creature to change hearts – then maybe, just maybe there’s hope for the rest of us, too. Besides the Bible, what is a Christian book that has strongly influenced your faith? One book that has deeply shaped my perspective is Try Softer by Aundi Kolber. Kolber blends her experience as a licensed therapist with a Christian worldview, creating a book that is both practical and deeply spiritual. She doesn’t offer platitudes or quick fixes; instead, she gently guides readers to approach life, faith, and themselves with compassion. Her writing reminded me that walking with God doesn’t mean we must always be strong or perfect – it means we can bring our brokenness honestly before Him. What struck me most was her emphasis on being present in our struggles. Kolber shows that faith isn’t a shield against pain, anxiety, or grief, but a lens through which we can experience God’s love even in the hardest seasons. Reading this book felt like sitting with someone who sees both the mess and the beauty of life – someone who refuses to rush over the hard parts and instead invites you to rest, reflect, and trust God’s timing. Passages on surrender and self-compassion echoed deeply, reminding me of Psalm 34:18, that “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I found myself returning to its pages whenever life felt overwhelming. Try Softer doesn’t just teach principles – it models a way of living faithfully, gently, and honestly. It challenged me to let my faith be real, raw, and human, and showed me that God’s grace meets us not just in our successes but in our vulnerability. It’s a book that leaves you both comforted and strengthened, reminding you that God’s love is patient, persistent, and always present. What is a secular book that has revealed to you a Christian message or theme? Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove is a secular book that left me floored with its Christian undertones. On the surface, it’s about a grumpy old man and the eccentric neighbours who slowly, and often unintentionally, break through his crusty exterior. But beneath the humour and dry wit lies something sacred – a story about redemption, patience, and the quiet, relentless power of love. Ove isn’t particularly likeable at first; he’s bitter, stubborn, and absurdly set in his ways. Yet through the gentle persistence of others, he begins to rediscover purpose and belonging. It’s proof that sometimes grace comes disguised as nosy neighbours and unwanted interruptions. What captivated me most was how Backman mirrors the Gospel without ever mentioning it. Ove isn’t ‘fixed’ because he earns it; he’s redeemed because others refuse to give up on him. It’s Ephesians 2:8-9 in motion – salvation and transformation as pure gifts of grace. The story reminded me that love’s greatest miracles often happen not in church pews, but in driveways, shared meals, and moments of inconvenient kindness. Through laughter, awkward conversations, and heartbreak, you see that redemption can bloom quietly, right in the middle of ordinary life. By the end, I laughed, almost cried, and found myself reflecting on the people God has placed in my own life – the ones who refused to walk away even when I didn’t make it easy. A Man Called Ove reminded me that grace doesn’t always roar; sometimes it just knocks on your door, holding a casserole and refusing to leave. It’s a story that will leave you smiling through tears, whispering , “That’s exactly what love does.”

In our current climate – economic pressures, political divisions, ecological anxieties – joy can feel like a luxury, writes Anthony Hunt. BY CAPTAIN ANTHONY HUNT A few weeks ago, I was doomscrolling – a word we use for that late-night habit of endlessly swiping through social media or news feeds, consuming story after story of bad news, crises and outrage. It’s a strangely addictive cycle, but not often a joyful one.   In the middle of that spiral, I stumbled across a clip of stand-up comedian Sammy Obeid. He’s an American comic with Palestinian roots, carrying a razor-sharp wit and able to find humour even in life’s tensions. Midway through a set, someone in the audience shouted, “Joy is resistance.”   Obeid paused, let the words hang, then grinned: “Yeah. I’ve even got merch that says, ‘Jokes are resistance’.”    That exchange hit me hard. Here was someone whose identity is tied to a people often associated in the headlines with conflict and suffering, still laughing – still finding joy. And an audience member reframed it as something much bigger – a deliberate act of defiance against despair.   Paradoxes Most of us know this paradox. We live surrounded by beauty – the beaches, the bush, the easy warmth of an Australian summer’s evening – and yet, open the news and you’re quickly reminded that the world is hurting. War, injustice, cost-of-living pressures, fractured families, ecological strain.   The ancient writers of the Bible knew this same tension. One letter famously declares: “All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs” (Romans chapter 8, verse 22, The Message  translation).   The world is both stunningly good and deeply broken. And we feel caught in the middle. Do we give in to the brokenness, or pretend everything is fine? Or is there another way?  A different way One of the most striking voices on this question is Paul, an early Christian leader whose life was anything but easy. Paul wrote many of his letters while imprisoned or persecuted, yet one of his recurring themes is joy.    “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!” he urged the church in Philippi (Philippians chapter 4, verse 4, New King James Version ). Coming from a man writing in chains, those words sound almost absurd. Yet for Paul, joy wasn’t shallow cheerfulness. It was rooted in a deep trust that love and goodness ultimately have the last word.    He went further: “We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance,   endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans chapter 5, verse 3–4, Contemporary English Version).    This is why many Christians today can describe joy as resistance. It resists the pull of cynicism. It resists despair. It insists that even in the darkest times, light remains. In the life of Jesus, we also see that joy and sorrow are not enemies, but more like dance partners. Jesus was known for attending parties and feasts, telling stories about wedding banquets as glimpses of what God intends life to be like. Even his first miracle was at a wedding, turning water into wine (John chapter 2, verses 1–11), suggesting that even celebration itself is a sacred act.    Yet, Jesus also wept. He cried over the death of a close friend (John chapter 11, verse 35). He mourned over the city of Jerusalem, lamenting its brokenness (Luke chapter 19, verse 41). He even told his followers: “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you” (Matthew chapter 5, verse 4, The Message ).    This paradox is central. Life is both celebration and mourning. To deny either is to deny reality. To embrace both is to live more fully human.    Defying despair  In our current climate – economic pressures, political divisions, ecological anxieties – joy can feel like a luxury. But maybe, as that audience member shouted, joy is resistance.    Choosing joy doesn’t mean ignoring injustice or glossing over pain. It means refusing to let despair have the final word. It’s resistance to the pull of hopelessness.   And it doesn’t always look grand. Sometimes it’s the small acts that keep us human: sharing a meal with neighbours, volunteering at a local op shop, cheering your team at the footy, or laughing at a comedian’s joke. Sometimes joy is as simple as sitting with someone who is grieving, refusing to let them face sorrow alone.     As the writer and activist Cornel West once put it: “Our job is not to solve every problem in the world, but to do our part with grace, integrity and courage.” We may not be able to heal all wounds or end all wars. But we can resist despair by choosing to practice joy, hope and love where we are.    Joy and sadness  So perhaps the question is not, “How can we be joyful when the world is broken?” but rather, “Can we dare to be fully human by holding both joy and sorrow together?”    Joy can be real, even when brokenness is all around us. And brokenness can still be real, even in the middle of celebration. To live with both is not contradiction – it’s truth. It’s resisting the temptation to numb oneself with denial or drown in despair, to doomscroll the night away.    This paradox is at the heart of the story of Jesus – the cross and resurrection side by side, grief and joy inseparably linked. But even outside faith, the invitation is the same. To laugh without ignoring pain. To mourn without surrendering to hopelessness. To embrace life, not as an either/or, but as an and/both.   That’s not naïve. It’s profoundly human. And maybe, that’s the kind of resistance our world needs most.  Captain Anthony Hunt is the Corps Officer at Centenary Corps in Queensland.

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it?   Currently, I am part of the team at Frankston North Salvos. I began the appointment at the beginning of 2011, so it’s been 14 years! Many things have changed since then! When I first arrived, the appointment was to a traditional congregation worshipping in Frankston North, one of Victoria’s most disadvantaged suburbs.   In my time and with my encouragement, the appointment has evolved into a ministry that specifically works alongside young people in the local community who face unique challenges such as generational unemployment, family violence, drug use, early disengagement from education, and other barriers associated with low socio-economic communities.   What I love most is that I am invited into the lives of individuals and families to come alongside and support, love and encourage people to find hope, love and purpose. My ‘family’ is broad, long and deep, and I love it!   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?   I love learning new creative skills from YouTube! So far, I’ve fixed our washing machine, built garden steps, built a retaining wall, learnt crazy paving, and I’m working on my photography skills.   I also love running down to the beach and working out. I have four birth children who keep me very busy along with many non-birth children, who I support and love also!   3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?   This is a hard question to answer, as so many Christian songs have spoken to me at different times in my life. But I guess when I was first working out what kind of ‘Christian’ I would be, and reading books about the origins of The Salvation Army, Keith Green’s Asleep in Light was such a powerful voice in my formation, I can’t go past it!   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?   Definitely Bathsheba. Growing up in an era where everything was seen and interpreted through the lens of privileged white men, I’d love to ask Bathsheba how she felt about being summoned into David’s harem during the execution of her husband. Bathsheba has been interpreted as a seductress, but I have a feeling she has a different story to tell!   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?   What an interesting question in 2025, when choices and opportunities abound! I have a degree in Social Work (1999) and Nursing (2009). Friends often say to me, “You could easily get another job that pays a lot better!”   But do you know the Officer’s Covenant? “To love and serve him supremely all my days, to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life, to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unloved, and befriend those who have no friends …”   That is my job description! What?!! Is there anything better than that? It still brings me to tears. There is no higher calling. The Salvation Army has supported and released me to do exactly that, and there is nothing better I could devote my life to! To watch a video of Major Cate Shanks’ involvement with Frankston North Salvos, click here