Salvos Online  continues a new series of unexpected and decidedly prescriptive teachings that General William Booth gave to his soldiers 124 years ago, excerpting the 1902 publication  Letters to Salvationists on Religion for Every Day (volume 1) . Over the next few months, we will publish General Booth’s thoughts on everyday topics, including sickness and bereavement, sleep, hygiene, life challenges, chatting, clothing, poverty, the Bible and the Sabbath, industrial relations and more.   “Seven hours for a man, eight for a woman, and nine for a fool.” – General William Booth   Sleep and the Salvo BY GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH Salvation Army co-founder   (The article below is General William Booth’s original transcript.)   My dear comrades, it is said that every machine – nay, that everything made by human hands, or born of human ingenuity – must have rest for certain periods and at regular intervals, if it is to do its work well. At any rate, it is so with the human machine, and God, in His wisdom, has arranged that this rest should be found in our daily Sleep.   Without it, our strength quickly decays, reason leaves her throne, life languishes and presently expires. Sleep is a necessity. Every man should endeavour to secure that amount of ‘Nature’s sweet restorer’, that very Sleep, which his system requires.   Some people find it difficult to Sleep when the appointed hour comes round. Let me give them a little advice on the subject.   As you would not desire to take the spirit of nightmare with you to bed, do not indulge in a heavy supper. I have already said that some kind of refreshment, at the close of the day's work, may, now and then, be a necessity with Salvationists; but they should, if possible, avoid anything like a serious meal for an hour or two before the time to retire.   Keep a clear conscience. No man should go to his rest under condemnation. If any living soul has sinned against him, he should forgive; and if he has sinned against any living soul, he should, if it be possible, secure the forgiveness of that soul before he sleeps. Most important of all, he should have a clear witness that all his sins against God have been blotted out.   Paul’s experience is good for all times, and especially for your sleeping pillow; listen to him, “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.”   Commit yourself to the care of God and obtain the distinct assurance that He has you in His holy keeping, before settling yourself to slumber.   Sleep is one of His gifts. Touch the hem of His garment before you close your eyes.   Refuse to allow your thoughts to be occupied with any unpleasant experiences through which you may be passing at the time. Exercise your will, and so far as you can do so, banish them from your mind before you fall asleep, and refuse them admission during any of the wakeful hours that may follow.   Happy the man or the woman who can close their bedroom door against the perplexing and painful difficulties with which they may have been contending during working hours! “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”   Anyway, try to shut it out of your chamber during the night.   If engaged in close and confining forms of employment, such as sitting in an office, or in a workroom, take, if possible, some exercise that will more or less tire the whole body. A reasonable amount of exertion in the open air is a valuable health preserver to tens of thousands of our people.   I verily believe those of our Soldiers who are faithful to their Open-air duties, live longer, in consequence, than those who neglect them. Weariness is always the most friendly aid to Sleep.   Choose some agreeable and profitable subject on which to meditate as you lay yourself down. The run of your latest waking thoughts and feelings will be likely to colour your dreams and visions, if you have any; and, beyond question, Sleep will come more readily, and be more healthy and restful, if you enter upon it in a pleasant and peaceful state of mind.   While securing sufficient Sleep, beware of taking more than is required. Here, again, we must be careful not to err. Everyone is, I suppose, familiar with the old rule, “Seven hours for a man, eight for a woman, and nine for a fool.” It is a good rule.   For certain highly-strung nervous natures, who lavishly pour out their feelings and energies in their work, it will, no doubt, be difficult to take too much Sleep; but even here, the old adage applies, “Enough is as good as a feast.” Too long a period spent in bed is calculated to weaken rather than to strengthen the system.   But while Early Rising imparts life and energy to some natures, it weakens, if it does not actually incapacitate, others. Every man must deal conscientiously with himself on this question; while Salvationists must beware of getting too much Sleep, they must be equally careful to get sufficient. This applies especially to the more anxious among them. NEXT WEEK: General William Booth’s thoughts on conversation. *This series has been compiled by Barry Gittins, The Salvation Army Australia Museum Specialist (Melbourne)

Portland Community MealShare has operated for nearly eight years as a volunteer-led partnership with The Salvation Army. What began as a small group responding to a gap in local food support has grown into a shared Monday night meal each week. More than just providing nutritious food, the program creates a welcoming space where relationships are built, walls come down and volunteers put their faith into action through practical care and shared community.

Artist Anna Tu with the McCombe House mural.   BY LAUREN MARTIN AND SUBU KOIRALA   An interactive mural activity that encourages creativity for relaxation and mindfulness offers residents at Tasmania’s McCombe House a space to reflect and refresh as they rebuild their lives after experiencing  family and domestic violence and homelessness.   The idea to create a mural on the blank fence walls outside the McCombe House building has been in development since 2022, but it wasn’t until the chaplain, Major Angela Rawlings, met artist Anna Tu at a local craft market that the project gained momentum.    “Her artwork of a butterfly captured my eye,” said Angela.   The two worked together on concepts for the mural, including resident involvement and uplifting quotes chosen and voted on by residents and staff.   The Salvation Army Tasmania’s External Communications Office Coordinator, Subu Koirala, said the murals are a visual representation of the hope that McCombe House offers: “ They beautifully capture the various seasons of life. At the centre of the mural, a vibrant butterfly has been painted in soft rainbow colours.”   Anna Tu explains that the butterfly symbolises transformation, the art of becoming, letting go of what was, and stepping into something new. A large butterfly is one of the main images in a new mural at The Salvation Army’s McCombe House in Tasmania, symbolising hope, transformation and beauty.  “ I have experienced some darkness in my life as well, and it was art saving me and keeping me alive,” the artist said. “So, being able to create something that brings warmth, love, courage and hope to help others ... it means so much to me.”   Residents were invited to join in the painting of the mural, with Subu describing their contributions as significant.   “There are ‘little people’ scattered across the murals,” she explained. “They are wonderfully unique, and together they feel alive, like tiny stories captured in motion.   “They remind us that beauty lives in our differences, yet beneath it all, we’re connected by the simple truth of being human.”   Phrases like ‘You are brave’ and ‘Let your light shine’ offer encouragement to all who walk past. Uplifting quotes offer encouragement to all who walk past the new mural at The Salvation Army’s McCombe House in Tasmania.   The murals bring the walls of McCombe House to life. There is a deep sense that they come from real experiences, moments that were heavy, yet meaningful.   Family Violence State Manager Liz Carney says the mural is focused on recovery, hope and identity: “All those things that can be rebuilt when you’re in a place like McCombe House. For the women who contributed to [the mural], it leaves a lasting legacy of being there. Everyone will move on, but a little piece is left behind, and the women who come after can see that and take hope from it.”   Art therapy invites McCombe House residents to mindfulness Major Angela Rawlings, the McCombe House chaplain. Major Angela Rawlings, Chaplain at McCombe House, said the idea for art groups at McCombe House to promote mindfulness and creativity came about when she was talking to the centre’s Children’s Specialist Practitioner.   “ Having space to breathe and, potentially, relax is so important for anyone living in a high-stress situation such as leaving a relationship because of violence,” she said.   An application for a Department of Premier and Cabinet grant to run the groups was successful, and they commenced earlier this year. Some of the activities offered include mindfulness through relaxation techniques, painting, writing, photography and vision/inspiration boards.   It’s been a slow start for the groups, with many women hesitant to commit to attending.   “The residents are, naturally, hyper-vigilant,” said Angela. “Anything [that we can do] that can assist them that know that they are safe, is valuable.”   She and her co-facilitators, Carol Ellis and Sandra Menzies, are committed to continuing to offer the activities, knowing that their impact is significant for those who attend, as evidenced by a woman who recently created a vision board outlining her hopes and dreams for the future.    “We want to offer resin jewellery-making, air-dry clay creations, music therapy, and so much more. We are even planning for two activities during the coming school holidays to include mums and children in the activity together,” said Angela. Artist Anna Tu painting a mural on the fence walls at The Salvation Army’s McCombe House in Tasmania.

To read Dorothy’s Promoted to Glory notice, click here

It was an ‘All-American’ show, featuring the Statue of Liberty, when Melbourne Project 614 hosted the  New York Staff Band’s ‘Lunch Spectacular’ on 20 March. All photos: Kevin Diaz Melbourne Salvos 614 was transformed into a slice of the Big Apple as more than 300 guests were swept away by the sights, sounds and electric energy of the ‘New York, New York Lunch Spectacular’. Brought to life by the renowned 35-piece Salvation Army New York Staff Band, the event on 20 March was a joy-filled afternoon hosted by Project 614 and marked the band’s only Australian lunch performance. The New York Staff band visited Australia last month on its whirlwind 12-day ‘King of Kings’ tour that included 10 concerts and a number of guest appearances in schools, malls, promenades and other public venues before a grand finale performance with the Melbourne Staff Band at Box Hill Corps. The crowd at Project 614 were treated to iconic tunes from ‘ Amazing Grace’  and ‘ I Can See Clearly’ to ‘ Mr Blue Sky’  and ‘ New York, New York’ , with many singing and dancing along!  There was even an opportunity to get up an dance with band members as the concert went into full swing. Roving entertainers, including a Statue of Liberty and Charlie Chaplin, added extra fun as they weaved through the crowd. And the menu? It delivered its own slice of New York. Buffalo wings, Reubens with pickles and crisps, classic New York cheesecake and donuts offered guests a full taste of the Big Apple experience – ensuring no one left hungry. The event was also featured as a news segment on Melbourne’s Channel 7. Click here to watch. Visit the New York Staff Band Facebook site for an in-depth coverage of the tour. The New York Staff Band on stage at Melbourne Project 614 for its ‘Lunch Spectacular’ on 20 March.  Click through the slideshow below for more photos of the event:

Each month on Salvos Online , Rosy, the Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, shares her thoughts and reflections on the spiritual issues that shape our lives as Christians, exploring how our faith intersects with our everyday experiences and how we can deepen our relationship with God. Today she reflects on a meaningful young adults’ retreat she was part of and how it has impacted her for the Kingdom   Around 27 young adults and a few leaders recently gathered in the Melbourne CBD for a three-day retreat. On the first night of the young adults’ retreat, we went on a city tour with Nick White, a teacher of Indigenous history, who took us to specific sites of significance to the Kulin nation. At one of the sites, he told us about a young man who had met the soon-to-be colonists at what would become the casino waterfront of the Birrarung River. Back then, the natural dip in the river made it easy for European colonist ships to dock. The first family was a handful of people, and their cat (can’t forget the cat!), and this young man chose to host them and show them around. When mob further up north heard that the colonists had landed in Melbourne, they sought to come down to remove them, as settlers further up the coast had wrought havoc on local mob, women, and land. The young man decided to protect his hosts and gathered a few men so that, when the confrontation occurred, there would be no loss of life. Nick went on to say that decades later, this young man was isolated and alone as an old man, because, as we know, the colonists continued to come and come and come, and eventually eradicated most of his family and took the surrounding landscapes for themselves. Nick asked us, did he do the right thing, knowing what we know now? And yet, it is the exceptionally generous culture of welcome that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are known for, and it made me think of Jesus, and how Jesus’ radical welcome, even to a people who were hostile and killed him, was never redacted. There is a parable Jesus told in Matthew 21:33-39 about a vineyard and its owner, and the people in the vineyard who continued to kill the owner’s servants he sent, so he finally sent his only son. They killed him, too. This parable was a direct reference to God’s love and loss as God sought to reach people. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16–17). I believe that in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, we can see the exceptional value of hosting the stranger and the foreigner, making a place among ourselves and not turning away those in need, loving even unto death. “When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God” (Leviticus 19:33–34, MSG). At the end of this tour, the young people stood together as we learned that the Australian flag has the British Union Jack and the Southern Cross on it, and that mob around Australia have seen in the Southern Cross the representation of their five ways of living: law, language, ceremony, place and kinship. There, on the Australian flag, we actually see the coming together of the law of the British colony and the law of the First Nations people of Australia. As we were reflecting, I saw a picture in this of how God continues to call us to be disciples and to disciple others. A fresh image of this came from reflecting on the Southern Cross: The smallest star in the middle could represent ourselves. (Luke 9:23) The star above, the person we are following and imitating as we imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1; Hebrews 13:7) The star below, the person we are feeding into and raising up in the gospel of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:19–20) The stars either side, our peers or friends who can bear our hearts and encourage one another in Christ. (Hebrews 10:24–25; Galatians 6:2) We had an exercise at the end of the retreat where we drew, on one huge continuous piece of paper, the Southern Cross and put our name in the centre, the person we are discipled by above, the person we are discipling below, and our friends either side, encouraging that if we didn’t have one of those stars, we would commit to finding or building that relationship in the days to come. On the same huge continuous piece of paper, each young person and leader drew a part of a river, and in the middle of the river we wrote two or three words of what we hoped for the body of Christ, for ourselves, for God to give us. Things like connection, unity, justice, courage, and love were in the middle of each river, and then we drew the cross. At the end of it, we folded the paper so that every single river connected, and we saw this river of life flowing through the middle. In te reo Māori, the word is Wairua Tapu, which means Holy Spirit, the deep, sacred, spiritual river. It was really beautiful as we all stood in the middle of the river and prayed. So, what does that look like for you? What resonates about the Southern Cross, a uniquely Australian discipleship model? Do you have someone who feeds into your life? Are you feeding somebody else? Do you have friends who see and know you on a deep and spiritual level? (John 7:38; Ezekiel 47:9) The Salvation Army Australia’s focus for this year is around The Way: prayer, discipleship, spiritual warfare, evangelism, all Salvos on mission. How can we do this alone? We cannot. And we are to be as stars in the sky. (Daniel 12:3; Philippians 2:15) Another thing that has been a part of this last couple of weeks, alongside these amazing gatherings, has been that my health has been really hard, getting my wisdom teeth out, and the slow healing process because of my chronic illness and recurring chronic pain. Here we have the contrast between feeling very useful and connected with many people, and the isolation of a bedroom, and the stress on your body from trying to heal and recover after intense times. People sometimes ask me how I continue to do what I do when I am so unwell. When talking with a friend of mine who came to help for the day, we both agreed that in times of mourning, loss, pain and sickness, a unique grace comes to those who experience them, for Jesus says, “Blessed are they …”. The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:3–10 Blessed are the poor in spirit Blessed are those who mourn Blessed are the meek Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness Blessed are the merciful Blessed are the pure in heart Blessed are the peacemakers Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness Here is a poem I wrote to reflect my experience:   I wonder if seeds Chatter Radiate Glitter In the hands of the master Knowing they must be cast Buried Pushed by the finger That drew words in the dirt Covered in sod That made human in Genesis The same that God Says all humans Will return to   And as the seed sits in Its darkest chamber I wonder if it Reminds itself That Jesus Too was buried Darkness Under earth Three days   Sadness and temple curtains tearing and eclipses and weeping and herbs cast aside He had no knowledge of this Of care for this Dead to the world He had bigger fish to fry (Maybe Jonah and he will laugh about this   Cast me into the deep For it’s me the Lord wants!)   To come to people Who have no faith And offer them the word Repent   Jonah’s tree grew   And as the seed Feels itself Disintegrate A degrading Instead it sees itself As giving Offering what was To become what is Welcoming the unknown The end As the beginning.   A new sprout Tender and reaching Unseen Unseen Unseen   Forgotten by those who planted it But it hummed along industriously The flesh of its old life Becoming the food for the new   Jesus rose in secret Blasting into locked rooms Sneaking up on beloved disciples as she grilled the angels by the tomb He made aware all That was is planted Where no eye may comprehend Has roots In the Unsmiteable   And seeds bear trees bear fruit And as the Holy Sprout makes me plentiful The seed I shed is sensible Knowing she gave all she had And it was enough And it was Seen by him Seen by him All for him   And it’s sweet

BY DANIELLE TERCEIRO* Is she dead? Is she alive? You can’t be sure as you walk past Old Woman in Bed (2000, 2002), a mixed media sculpture by Ron Mueck currently on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It’s part of the Encounter exhibition of Mueck’s work. This Eastertime, I am thinking about what it might be like to feel the approach of death, to know that I am taking my final breaths. Does the Easter story change anything? Mueck’s sculptures are often described as “hyper-real” because of the detail he uses to portray the human body. In Old Woman in Bed the eyes of the old women look moist; the veins show through her transparent skin; her tongue sits flatly against the bottom of her mouth, which is open as if she is gasping for air. Or perhaps she has just taken her last gasp of air? The faint flush of the old woman’s skin suggests that she may still be alive but we can’t be sure. The gallery brochure describes Old Woman in Bed as “affecting as they come”, and notes that “our hesitancy as to whether she is still (or was ever) breathing, mirrors the experience of listening out for a loved one’s ragged, possibly final breath”. Mueck’s human figures are never to human scale. The woman in this sculpture is tiny: more baby-scale than adult scale. The sculpture blurs the beginning-of-life with the end-of-life. Susan Stewart is a poet and a scholar who is interested in the way humans tell themselves stories through art. Stewart notes in On Longing: Narratives of the Miniature, the Gigantic, the Souvenir, the Collection (1984) that miniature sculptures tend to draw their audience into a fantasy world that feels fairy-like and outside of time. We look upon the “hallucinatory details” of the tiny people and feel like we are in a trance. Old Woman in Bed invites us into a moment that feels magical and suspended, but when we ‘wake up’ from this moment what are we meant to make of our encounter with the artwork? There is a tender feeling, perhaps, for this life-like representation of a frail fellow human being, and a concern for our own elderly loved ones. There might also be a nagging worry as to what it will be like to draw our own final, ragged breaths. At Eastertime we remember an event: the time that a human being, Jesus Christ, took his last breath on a Roman cross. We also remember the startling turn in this story: this was not Jesus’ final last breath. The claim of the gospels are that he came back to life three days’ later and had more real-life encounters with his friends and followers. Luigi Giussani (1922-2005), an Italian Catholic priest and theologian reflected on the mysterious thing that Jesus Christ did for us – for all of humanity – when he resurrected from death on Easter Sunday. Jesus addressed the uneasy human sense that our lives are just fleeting and meaningless moments of time. Instead, the resurrected Jesus is with us in every passing moment, transforming each moment, “making it history, opening it, preventing things from finishing in nothingness”. The Gospel of Mark records Jesus’ last breath. In the old-fashioned language of the King James Bible, it says that Jesus “gave up the ghost” (Mark 15:37). But the Gospel accounts are careful to let us know that Jesus returns as a human and not a ghost. Jesus has his own version of an Encounter exhibition, except in his version there is no museum guard preventing viewers from touching the lifelike exhibit. Jesus invites Thomas, the sceptical disciple, to touch and explore the nail wounds on his hands and the spear gash on his side (John 20:24-29). This is real-life, bodily and not ghostly Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection is “as affecting as they come” (in the words of Ron Mueck’s curator), because a new way of being in the world is forged for us, a world in which we can look upon our fellow humans and our wrinkling, aging, injured bodies with tenderness. We can understand that each moment of human life is charged with meaning, even if it feels in many ways that our own life is marginal or it is petering out. The Easter story tells us that even our final gasping breath can be changed from a full stop to just an important comma in our own life story. Like Jesus, our stories will end up being resurrection stories, and we will be humans on a new earth. I am wondering when will be the moment I take my final breath? What will be my death story? I’m not haunted by my future death story, though. I believe that the death-to-life story of Jesus changes my own story, that I won’t finish in nothingness, and that I won’t stalk the world in a ghostly non-human afterlife. The Easter story turns around my own life and death story and breathes life beyond my final breath.   *Danielle Terceiro is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. This article first appeared on the CPX website here , and has been reposted with permission. Danielle is completing a PhD in the area of literature and theology at Alphacrucis University College.

This Easter, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas brings us a message of hope for uncertain times. On Good Friday, when Jesus died on the cross, everything looked like it had fallen apart. But this wasn’t the end. On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose again and grief turned into hope. Easter reveals a love stronger than fear, sadness and even death. This Easter, may you discover God’s unshakeable love for you, a rock-solid love that is completely faithful and reliable.

BY GENERAL LYNDON BUCKINGHAM   It was a good Saturday. Or was it? Truthfully, it could have been disastrous. It certainly did not look good in the beginning. I suffered a heart attack. Seems it was quite a significant episode; frightening for Bronwyn and, yes, deeply troubling for me. Was this it? Had my time come? Is this how the Lord was calling me home? What about the kids and the grandkids? What about Bronny? What about my ministry? I still had things that needed to be done. This was not a good Saturday. It was awful, frightening, dark and scary.   And yet, yes, as it happens, it was a good Saturday. As I reflect on that day last October, I celebrate the miracles of that scary day. The right people intervening at the right time. Christian concern that led to action. A beautiful Salvationist nurse whose friend was a Christian cardiologist. A life-saving intervention and even a promise from God himself that all will be well. God’s timing was perfect. His providence abundant. So, as I reflect and look deeper into the events that transpired, I have come to the conclusion that it was a good Saturday after all.   I remember as a young junior soldier being perplexed by the use of the word ‘good’ in the Easter story. Good Friday – the day they crucified Jesus. How can that possibly be described as good? I mean, let’s not sugar-coat it. It was a horrible day. A day of unjust conviction, brutal torture, of unrelenting pain and suffering. The cross, a weapon of the devil, used against the Lamb of God. Horrifying, ugly and unforgivable. But if, without excusing the events of the day, we look deeper, we actually witness God himself in action. God meets the manifestation of pure evil represented by a physical cross, with all its brutality, with the redeeming love that conquers evil, sin and, yes, death itself. He turns an ugly Friday into an exceptionally ‘Good Friday’ indeed. Eternal life is not only duration, but also dimension. It is a life infused with the presence of God, and it begins the moment we place our trust in Jesus.   Understand this: whatever else was going on, Jesus himself was motivated by love. He went to the Cross out of love for all humanity; out of love for you and for me. In his Letter to the Romans, Paul wrote: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV ). Christ demonstrated the extent of God’s love for all of us by taking upon himself the sin of the world. On this Friday, Jesus was motivated by love. The truth is, God loves us, and Jesus is the proof.   The writer to the Hebrews asks the question: “... how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?’ (Hebrews 2:3 NIV ). The prophet Isaiah wrote: “...by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NIV ). It is a mystery for sure. In some mysterious and divine way, the events of Good Friday hold the key to our own healing, our forgiveness, our salvation and our adoption. The atonement makes possible our being embraced by Almighty God himself. Jesus, motivated by love, makes possible our restoration, redemption and reconciliation. We are healed; we are saved. We are loved.   It can be difficult to see the events of Good Friday as triumphant, but that is exactly what it is. First, it is a triumph for Jesus. He was faithful and obedient, even to death on the Cross. “It is finished,” he declared (John 19:30 NIV ). I have completed my mission. It is done. The power of sin and death is defeated.   Second, the triumph of Calvary is the defeat of evil. In Jesus’ victory over sin and evil, his ‘triumph’ becomes our triumph as well. Because we live on this side of the Resurrection, we are able to celebrate our Lord’s vindication. He conquered death and lives forevermore. His victory becomes ours. It was Jesus himself who said: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26 NIV ).   Jesus acknowledges the reality of physical death but goes on to declare that death does not have the final word over those who, by faith, belong to him. This means death is no longer a wall, but a doorway. It has lost its ultimate power and its terror, and it cannot sever a person from the life Jesus gives. Eternal life is not only duration, but also dimension. It is a life infused with the presence of God, and it begins the moment we place our trust in Jesus.   Turns out, it was a very ‘Good Friday’ indeed!   My prayer for each of you is that you will be captivated by, and experience for yourselves, the reality of God’s love for you, revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Saviour of the world.   God bless you. WATCH MORE: General Lyndon Buckingham’s Easter message: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18A3K7UJ7Q/ or click here on YouTube

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it?   For the past seven years, my wife, Leanne, and I have been appointed to Southern Downs Corps. The corps is about two hours west of Brisbane and includes expressions in Allora, Stanthorpe and Warwick. The thing we find most satisfying is our Saturday afternoon service called the Gathering. It starts at 4pm and includes a 45-minute chapel service followed by a meal. We currently have about 60-70 people attending this service, and most of these people are new to the army. It is great doing life with them and helping them in their Christian journeys.   As of 30 March, Richard has taken up an appointment as Team Leader at Streetlevel Mission – Logan (Queensland Division).   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind?   I love to watch sport, and in particular rugby league. I am a long-suffering St George supporter. I also do Lego, and in the new place we live in, I have my own Lego room otherwise, known as my office!   3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?   I really like ‘10,000 Reasons’ by Matt Redman. Often, we have to stop and look at how good our God is and how much he has done for us. In the stopping, it helps me to reset and be grateful to God for his abundance.    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?   My favourite would probably be David. He was a man who made mistakes and was full of remorse for what he had done wrong. God chose to forgive him and use him in mighty ways. I love the way he expresses that in the Psalms. I like people who live their lives authentically.   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say?   My officer journey is a bit different. I spent two years as an officer at Tweed Heads, then married my wife and spent over 20 years as an employee of The Salvation Army through the Tweed Heads Corps. I was happy doing lay work and being involved in the life of Tweed Corps, but I felt a stirring from God to commence full-time service again. I can honestly say that the last 12 years have been the most fulfilled I have felt in ministry. I love doing life with people and journeying with them. I have had so many opportunities to use my gifts in the last seven years, particularly in my current appointment. So, I would definitely say step out and see what our God can do.    More information on Salvation Army officership can be found  here . *Meet the Officer interviews are conducted by  Salvos Online  journalist Lerisse Smith

Chief of Staff Edward Hill and Commissioner Shelley at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi. This past week, Salvation Army leaders from across the world, including Australia's Commissioner Miriam Gluyas , gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the International Conference of Leaders (ICL). The ICL presents leaders a chance to reflect, discuss, pray and discern the next steps for the global movement. The event, which concluded on 28 March, featured conversations with leaders about their reflections on the conference, and how they believe the ICL’s talks will shape the future of The Salvation Army. One such conversation was with Chief of Staff Commissioner Edward Hill, and World Secretary of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Shelley Hill. “I think that we’ve engaged honestly, courageously [and] respectfully on big issues facing The Salvation Army, what I would call existential issues facing The Salvation Army,” Commissioner Edward Hill said. “There’s been a great spirit in the room. I’m very encouraged because I think it bodes well for the future of our great Salvation Army … that we can do even greater things as we focus on people, mission and legacy.” To watch the full video, see below. On the final day of the International Conference of Leaders 2026, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham (World President of Women’s Ministries) also reflected on the spirit of unity evident at the Conference, the qualities needed for the next generation of leaders, and the ongoing work to remove barriers for women in leadership across the global Salvation Army. To watch the full video, see below. To view more photos, videos and information from the ICL, see here .

Lieutenant Dave Bruford is overseeing a transformation of the Devonport Corps through community-related midweek programs. BY LAUREN MARTIN   Lieutenant Dave Bruford and his wife, Lydia, are the youngest people in their Sunday congregation at Devonport   Salvation Army, in northern Tasmania. But God is doing a beautiful work amongst children and families at their corps throughout the week, and they are excited and expectant to see the Holy Spirit’s fruit.   “I do not believe that our model of church works in today’s society, particularly in our regional area,” says Dave – a Salvation Army officer who’s quick with a smile. “The people we connect with in small groups and our connect spaces, they don’t feel like they can come to church, but they can come to a small group or connect space. It’s almost like God is planting something new.   “We are seeing our Sunday faith community partner with what’s happening by joining in prayer for our Pathway of Hope pilot and as we explore where the Holy Spirit is leading us.” Lieutenant Dave Bruford says the Devonport Corps’ main focus is to create faith pathways. Devonport Salvos is a bustling corps, with dozens of families connected through The Salvation Army Australia trial of Pathways of Hope, a program successful in the United States that supports families of children from newborn to 12 years old. Its Doorways parenting team works in the corps to provide personalised casework support, alongside corps-based programs, like the weekly ‘Smart Cookies’ club (see story here ) . Families are also supported through the corps’ Salvo Connect space, which provides food relief and connection. A prayer wall in that space provides a faith pathway for community members to post prayer requests and take a prayer home with them.   “What does a discipleship pathway look like from that space?” Dave asks, “It’s a long journey, but we have been doing little bits and pieces ... I have had a few people from Salvo Connect journey through the Positive Lifestyle Program, and they’re still connected, but they’re not yet made a commitment. We also have people starting to read the Bible for the first time.”   A community garden on site is another opportunity for Dave and his team to walk alongside community members, do life together, and have chats.    “It’s a slow process, but God is at work.”  And, despite not having a kids program during Sunday’s gathered worship, this year  Devonport Salvos has invited a number of children who have  become connected to the corps through the Smart Cookies program to a Salvos Kids Holiday Program to be held during the school holidays. The Devonport Salvation Army prayer wall provides a faith pathway for people accessing the building during the week. “We have the opportunity to disciple these young kids from a perspective of not a ‘church’ situation but authentically being Jesus to these families [who are connected through Smart Cookies and Pathways of Hope]. We just don’t know what that looks like yet.”   There is optimism for the future at Devonport Salvos.   “What I am most excited about for this year is seeing families find a safe place to connect with us as The Salvation Army,” says Dave. “Sometimes we never see the fruit of our labour, and that’s ok, but we know and stand firm in the knowledge of knowing that God is at work, and that work in the harvest field is not in vain.”   Please keep Devonport Salvos in your prayers as they live, love and fight alongside their community.