Adrian Kistan (General Manager Ministry Resourcing and Support), Sherry Wanjiru ( Salvation Army Lived Experience Project Officer) and Sue Hodges (Salvation Army Reconciliation Action Plan and Projects Manager) at the Redfern event on Wednesday.   BY LAUREN MARTIN   Salvation Army national managers Adrian Kistan and Sue Hodges have shared personal family stories of slavery at a powerful gathering at Redfern Territorial Headquarters in Sydney that marked the UN International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.   Adrian, General Manager of Ministry Resourcing and Support, told those gathered on Wednesday that his family originated in India, but that his great-grandparents emigrated to South Africa when both countries were under British colonial rule.   “They were promised a good life, but it was far from the truth,” Adrian shared.   “When they arrived, they were sent to work as indentured workers in the sugar cane farms. The nickname they were given were ‘coolies’, which translated to being slaves … It was really poor conditions … far from the dream they were sold when they were in India.”   Adrian shares his story, which included slides of his great-grandparents’ experiences. Sue, who is The Salvation Army Reconciliation Action Plan and Projects Manager, told her story of growing up on an Aboriginal mission “in a house with dirt floors and flattened oil pans to make the shell of the humpy, and the potato sacks would help to keep out the wind and the cold”.   Her mother, who worked as a domestic servant, told Sue that she didn’t believe she was being paid correctly. “Sometimes she said [her pay was] substituted by the property owners with eggs, milk and sometimes beef. She never questioned them for fear of losing her own children.”   Slavery and slavery-like conditions were the subject of the Redfern ceremony, which was organised by The Salvation Army’s Modern Slavery stream.   Sherry Wanjiru, the Lived Experience Project Officer in the stream, told those gathered that slavery has not ended, it has just “adapted and become more complex”.   “Today, modern slavery can look like an opportunity that feels too good to be true; it can look like a debt that keeps growing no matter how hard someone works … underpaid or unpaid labour, isolation, the removal of choice … and often it exists in plain sight.” – Sherry Wanjiru   She urged people to recognise the signs of modern slavery and respond. Click here to read Sherry’s speech that she delivered at the event Sherry Wanjiru lights a candle for those impacted by modern slavery as Major Melanie Wren speaks. The Salvation Army provides a range of specialist services for people who are at risk of, experiencing or have experienced modern slavery in Australia. This includes the country’s first and only safehouse that accommodates survivors of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices. It also has Australia’s new national hotline and support service, the  Additional Referral Pathway   for confidential information and assistance (1800 000 277). Major Robyn Black, the NSW/ACT Divisional Commander, spoke about being proud of The Salvation Army’s longstanding commitment to responding to modern slavery, since establishing the safehouse in 2008. “ There is a need in Australia and in our own small way we have been able to play our part,” she said. “The Salvation Army’s response is guided by the international Fight for Freedom strategic plan, aiming for all personnel to be able to identify and respond appropriately to people experiencing modern slavery.”   Major Robyn Black, Divisional Commander for NSW/ACT, speaks at the ceremony to mark the UN International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. At the end of the ceremony, Major Melanie Wren led those gathered in a time of reflection that culminated in the lighting of three candles in memory of those affected in the past and the present.   “As colleagues and friends who work in The Salvation Army, may we each do our best to embody justice in action, working with compassion and humility to end modern slavery together,” she said. TSA personnel can learn more about how to identify and respond to modern slavery by completing the 40-minute modern slavery LEARN module.   To get in touch with the modern slavery specialist team to ask questions or seek support, you can contact 1800 000 277 or email arp@salvationarmy.org.au Major Melanie Wren, Sherry Wanjiru, Adrian Kistan, Major Robyn Black, Sue Hodges and Claudia Cummins (National Family Violence and Modern Slavery Specialist) at the Redfern event.

General Lyndon Buckingham gives the keynote address at the opening of the International Conference of Leaders. Commissioner Miriam Gluyas is among the delegates to this week’s Salvation Army International Conference of Leaders (ICL), currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya. To listen to General Lyndon Buckingham speak about the ICL, click here . The International Conference of Leaders is a periodic gathering of senior Salvation Army leaders from around the world. Convened by The General and the Chief of Staff, it provides space to reflect, pray and discern the movement’s direction within a dynamic global context.  The conference offers a private forum for the territorial commanders and other senior officers to share insights from their regions and to consider the challenges and opportunities facing the Army. Grounded in a shared sense of mission and calling, and held in the presence of God, the ICL fosters unity, strengthens fellowship across cultures and contexts and helps shape strategy while discerning priorities for the years ahead.   Earlier this week, a few delegates shared their hopes for the conference. To hear their reflections, click on the arrow below.   READ MORE: A rmy’s senior leaders gather in Kenya for international conference.

Thousands of people were part of the vibrant welcome meeting to ICL delegates in Nairobi, Kenya. BY SIMONE WORTHING “Worship with 10,000 Kenyans – and that’s just from one division!” said Australia’s Territorial Commander, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, who is attending the International Conference of Leaders (ICL) in Nairobi, Kenya. “The stadium was full. Stunning! The children, the singing, the music, the praise, the Word. Wow, wow, wow! ‘Thank you Lord. Revive us again across the world.’ “Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed.” Where’s Commissioner Miriam Gluyas? She’s in there somewhere with other delegates at the International Conference of Leaders. The 120 ICL delegates – The Salvation Army’s most senior leaders from around the world – were greeted by more than 9000 Kenyan Salvationists praising God,  a 400-voice youth choir, and a 200-strong timbrel brigade as they arrived at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi last Sunday for the welcome worship service . This event featured high-energy dance, cheering, singing and music as the outdoor arena came alive with praise and thanksgiving to God. “As I greet you this morning in the beautiful and powerful name of Jesus,” General Buckingham said, “I thank you for your commitment to Christ. I thank you for your commitment to holy living. I thank you for your commitment to sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus. “And in greeting you this morning, I’m praying God’s blessing on you – on all of you, on all of us!” General Lyndon Buckingham greets the congregation that packed a stadium in Nairobi. (Right) A timbrel brigade in full display during the service. Later in his message, the General challenged the crowd: “We live under the umbrella of God’s love, compassion and faithfulness. In so doing, we shine like stars in the universe. As a people of hope, we dispense hope to others. “As recipients of God’s love towards us, we become dispensers of God’s love to each other, and to others. As we have received compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness, so we demonstrate these virtues to others.” As delegates arrived back at the conference venue, some of the delegates shared freely about their experience. (See video reel below) The ICL is a periodic gathering convened by the General and the Chief of Staff – a space for territorial commanders and senior officers to pray, share insights from their regions, and discern the movement’s direction together. This is where global strategy and priorities take shape. For the first time in the conference’s history, the ICL is being held on African soil. Nearly half of all Salvation Army soldiers worldwide are in Africa, as well as a third of all officers. The movement is thriving. The conference runs from 21-28 March. READ MORE:   New, schedules, photos and more from the 2026 ICL

As a Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant at Hamilton Salvos, Mark Thomas, also a sheep farmer, knows firsthand how tough it is to live through a drought.​​ BY LERISSE SMITH   Every few weeks, Mark Thomas drives up to the one hill on his sheep farm in regional Victoria, switches off the engine, and has a bit of a chat with God.   There’s no script, no ritual, no polished prayer for this farmer, Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant at Hamilton Salvos. Just an important, much-needed chat.   On the agenda?   “It can be anything,” he reflects. “I ask for rain, but I also ask for the ability to get through this dry period.”   The special prayer time isn’t a symbolic gesture. It’s survival.   Across his beloved South Grampians community and Western Victoria, many farmers are in crisis, caught in a perfect storm of drought, skyrocketing costs, critical water shortages, and an inability to pay their workers. Some are hanging on. Others are barely holding on by a thread.   “It’s hand to mouth, week to week,” says Mark. “It’s just about trying to get through.”   And in the midst of it all, the Salvos have become a vital lifeline.   Providing practical, emotional and spiritual support, Mark and his team work tirelessly to help their community do more than just survive.   Meet Mark, and it’s immediately apparent he’s totally dedicated to helping and supporting his deeply valued rural community. When they hurt, he hurts. Living out the Salvos’ core values, including compassion and respect, is a top priority.   Support for farmers comes in whatever form is needed – from food to furniture.   “We deliver food to workers on farms because the farmers can’t give them enough money,” he says.   “They will still work the hours, but the farms are not paying their workers because they just can’t afford to – and the workers want to work, they want to keep their jobs. But they’re not being paid because there’s just no money to do that. So, we support them with anything from furniture through to food – anything they need. We try and find it and give it to them.” Every few weeks, Mark Thomas drives up to the one hill on his sheep farm in regional Victoria, switches off the engine - and has a bit of a chat with God. “I ask for rain, but I also ask for the ability to get through this dry period,” he says. Farmers doing it tough who may not have workers because they’re smaller farms need support too. The Salvos help with food, clothing and bedding, whatever items are needed. Celebrating the Christmas season and presents for children are not forgotten either.   “When we find a need, we try to help them with that need,” says Mark. “They may even need advice because I’ve been a farmer for 40 years. I’ve got experience and if they’re unsure about something, I try to give them some assistance if I can.”   The stories he shares across the farming and local community are sobering.   One farming worker has gone from five days a week to two, and he doesn’t even get paid for those two. Instead, he might receive meat when livestock is processed, or the occasional cash when animals are sold.   Some rely on government support. Others refuse. Pride, independence, identity – these run deep in farming communities.   Then there’s what stays hidden.   “I have had farmers’ wives come in, who do the books for their farm, and have asked me not to tell their husbands (whom I don’t know) that they don’t have enough money to feed their family that week and asked if I could help,” Mark explains. “They are afraid their husbands would not handle it well.”   It’s a hardship he understands firsthand.   He has been running his sheep farm for four decades. His largest dam is at its lowest level since it was built 80 years ago. A kind of low not just measured in water, but in worry.   The pressures facing many farmers are being shaped by forces far beyond the farm gate. Global events such as fuel price spikes and conflict overseas are being felt more sharply than in most places.   “I hope and pray that this fuel price hike will be short-lived,” he emphasises.   “With no other options to send or receive goods to and from rural areas, it will make it incredibly difficult for those trying to survive with all costs rising: insurance, living expenses, equipment, motor vehicles, farming parts, oil, chemicals, school fees, labour and more.”   It may seem insurmountable.   “For many farmers, spending has been cut, and there is nothing else to cut,” he adds.   “It is leading to many sleepless nights and looking for other options that can lead to environmental degradation and long-term damage … When it comes down to it, if primary producers are doing it tough, it means we will all do it tough because we all have to eat!”   Mark is a fifth-generation farmer. Wool is their main income. His son is the sixth, carrying the load with four other jobs just to keep things afloat. Together, they keep the farm alive, running about 1200 sheep – less than half the property’s carrying capacity.   “Because of the drought, we’ve had to sell off a lot of our stock so we can keep the ones we can breed from,” he says. “It is very hard to see a future for the next generations.” Not only does Mark work for the Salvos, but he’s a fifth-generation farmer. Due to the drought, they have had to sell off a lot of their stock so they can keep the ones they can breed from.  (Image supplied of the sheep)   And the tough fact is that legacy doesn’t pay rising bills. The numbers tell the story – his insurance has doubled from $10,000 to $20,000.   When farms struggle, entire communities feel it. Workers lose hours, then wages, then certainty. Local businesses empty out.   Even the small industrial estates tell the story.   A recent visit to a factory block revealed not one of the doors open: “I’d been to the factory before and you couldn’t even get a car park,” Mark remarked. “This time, there was only one other car in the six factories ... it just shows you how much things have gone down.”   Underground water levels are also dropping dramatically. To put a bore down costs a farmer $30,000 to $40,000.   While helplines are offered as another formal support to farmers, they are rarely used. Instead, they rely on families. There’s the pub culture too, though fewer people are turning up these days.   The end result? The strain is often absorbed quietly, internally, often invisibly. Nothing replaces rain. Nothing beats green grass in a paddock.   Yet farmers keep going, doing what they’ve always done: they hope. In his role as Hamilton Salvos Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant, Mark (left) has worked tirelessly with good friend, Anthony Bolden, who initiated the Tins in the Bin project, to save lives across Victoria’s Southern Grampians district through the provision of essential food relief and material aid. “They’re just hoping that they will be good around the corner,” Mark emphasises. “That things will change. They know the weather won’t stay like this forever.”   And faith, too, surfaces in unexpected ways.   “God and the Salvos do come up in conversation,” he says. “They will say: “I don’t know why God has put us in this position,” or “Why doesn’t he send rain?’ They don’t talk about it overly, but they do open the door occasionally.”   But Mark doesn’t pretend to have answers.   “Normally, when somebody brings that up, I say, “Well, I don’t know God’s plans, but I know that, in the end, it will be for good.” They don’t blame God – but they just want to know when he is going to help?”   Faith is also less about explanation and more about endurance.   “In my prayers every night, I ask for wisdom in all of this,” he says. “I believe there is a purpose in everything.”   So, what keeps him going?   “God,” he says simply, “It’s really only through his strength I can do any of it. I don’t think I’m qualified to do any of it. But he strengthens me and guides me in everything I do. I rely on him for everything.”    Across Mark’s beloved South Grampians community and Western Victoria, many farmers are in crisis, caught in a perfect storm of drought, skyrocketing costs, critical water shortages, and an inability to pay their workers. Some are hanging on. Others are barely holding on by a thread. Mark’s property is not immune (pictured) to the drought. He’s praying for rain – and the ability to get through the dry period.

Chief Secretary Colonel John Chamness and Queensland Minister for Sciene and Innovation Andrew Powell officially open the Salvos Stores Textile Recovery Facility in Brisbane. BY SIMONE WORTHING “Innovation has always been a part of The Salvation Army,” said Colonel John Chamness, Chief Secretary, speaking at the official opening of the Salvos Stores Textile Recovery Facility in Carole Park, Brisbane – the first of its kind in Australia. “From developing the first matchstick factory that removed phosphorus from the production of matches in the 1800s in London, to the beginning of its collecting, sorting and recycling used clothing and fabric in the late 19th century, innovation is a part of who we are,” he continued. “The first Salvation Army recycling depots in Australia began in the 1880s, operating with the dual purpose of recycling used goods and providing equipment, supplies and support to those who need it most. That purpose and commitment to people and our planet continues through our 419 Salvo stores across the country today. “This site embodies that mission, caring for creation and strengthening communities.” Queensland Minister for Sciene and Innovation Andrew Powell addresses the gathering. Colonels John and Lani Chamness joined Salvation Army Queensland and Salvos Stores leaders for the opening, which was also attended by business and industry partners, academics, community stakeholders and government representatives, including Queensland Minister for Science and Innovation, and Acting Minister for Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell. In Australia, over 200,000 tonnes of clothing end up in landfill each year, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions that protect the environment that the Textile Recovery Facility provides. The facility will annually process and sell up to 5000 tonnes of textile waste, collected through Salvos Stores and from other business partners, enabling the decommissioned materials to stay in circulation, reduce landfill, protect the environment and generate additional revenue to fund the frontline work of The Salvation Army across the country. Rendle Williams (External Communications Manager - Qld), Matt Davis (former Salvos Stores National Director), Major David Collinson (Salvos Stores Executive Officer - Mission) and Albert Olley (Group Executive - Mission Enterprises) at the opening. Lasting impacts The process features innovative technology, including artificial intelligence and robotics, to sort and decontaminate textiles. This ‘feedstock’ can then be transformed into new products such as insulation, plastics, yarn, woven cloth and acoustic panels. Nic Baldwin, Head of Salvos Stores, said, “This achievement is a proud moment for Salvos Stores and reflects our deep commitment to innovation and caring for the planet we all share. Every step forward helps us create lasting impact for both people and the environment.” Rendle Williams, External Communications Manager (Qld), explained what the success of that this facility represents: “The Salvation Army across the world is possibly the largest collector of secondhand clothing globally, and as the volume of unsellable clothing rises, this Queensland world-first facility is a direct commitment to being part of the solution.” Government support The Queensland Government has invested $4.97 million in the project, supporting Salvos Stores to establish this cutting-edge circular economy textile hub in Brisbane. “The Crisafulli Government has supported the delivery of this Australian-first facility that will turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s products,” Minister Powell said. “This facility will reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfill, but it will also unlock new economic opportunities and support Queensland’s transition to a sustainable economy. “We recognise the critical need for waste infrastructure in Queensland, and we are taking action to deliver it through this new nation-leading facility … at the end of the day, this wouldn't have happened without the Salvos so thank you so very much and congratulations for an outstanding achievement. Well done.” (Left) Nic Baldwin, Head of Stores, and Major David Collinson on site at the new Textile Recovery Facility. (Right) Colonel John Chamness addresses the official opening of the new facility. After the speeches, Colonel Chamness cut the ribbon to officially open the Textile Recovery Facility, before all those attending were given a guided tour to see the machinery and how it all works. Major David Collinson, Executive Officer, Mission - Salvos Stores, shared that the opening was an exciting part of the facility’s journey that has been “a few years” in the making. “Some of our team went overseas to see similar facilities and brought the dream back to Australia,” he said. “To have a not-for-profit take it on was awesome. “And the sponsorship from the Queensland Government shows the strength of The Salvation Army brand and the trust they have in us. It’s all about what it means for our work with those impacted by alcohol and other drugs, family and domestic violence, and homelessness. We hope we can continue to help more Australians. “And we hope that many volunteers will find community or a home here, as they find them in our shops. For another cohort, we hope that this can be their new place and the home and community they find can transform their lives by being part of the team. “The dream continues.” Click through the slideshow for more photos from the official opening:

This beautiful animation is an invitation to come and experience God’s Unshakeable Love this Easter. His love reaches beyond pain and failure; it is limitless, personal and unbreakable. This Easter, come and experience this love revealed to us in Jesus – the Saviour of the world!

Attending the launch of the new partnership were Major Brendan Nottle (Project 614 Team Leader), Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten (The University of Canberra’s Vice-Chancellor and President), Professor Rachel Gibson (Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health at UC), Professor Tanya Lawlis (University of Canberra) and Major Sandra Nottle (Corps Officer Project 614).  BY LERISSE SMITH   Frontline workers supporting some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable community members are set to benefit from a groundbreaking partnership between The Salvation Army’s Melbourne Project 614 and the University of Canberra.   The pioneering alliance will transform community training and support for frontline workers and volunteers, launching a tailored educational pathway in May designed to strengthen and sustain the Project 614 workforce as it continues to recruit and train new staff and volunteers.   Through the partnership, Project 614 employees and volunteers – who work with people experiencing homelessness, isolation, poor health, and complex social barriers – will now have the opportunity to upskill with a Professional Certificate in Foundations for Working and Volunteering in Community Organisations . It is designed to equip workers with the knowledge, skills and confidence required for effective frontline community work.   “We are very excited about the partnership,” said Project 614 Team Leader Major Brendan Nottle, as he reflected on the pilot initiative.   “It is a fairly unique partnership that’s happening. It has been an exciting journey during the past 12 months where the academics that we have been working with, Professor Rachel Gibson and Professor Tanya Lawlis, have been genuinely excited to learn about The Salvation Army’s history, culture and values.   “I think their excitement has actually made our team excited again about our history and our culture, which we should be really proud of as Salvos.” Bill Shorten (left) officially launched the innovative project, which Major Brendan Nottle said was quite a unique concept. The University of Canberra’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten, officially launched the innovative project on 10 March at ‘The Temple’ at The Salvation Army’s premises in Bourke St, Melbourne.   Optimism filled the room as a large crowd celebrated the new venture with the University of Canberra’s (UC) Faculty of Health and Salvation Army employees co-designing the course to ensure the units blend academic expertise with lived practice directly drawn from the work undertaken at Project 614.   The Salvos team involved Brendan, his wife (Corps Officer Major Sandra Nottle), Project 614 Senior Operations Manager Richard Parker and Project 614 Café Supervisor Matthew Daniels.   Major Brendan Nottle with Project 614 Café Supervisor Matthew Daniels. “Project 614 and UC are strengthening the capacity of the sector, supporting emerging service hubs across Victoria, and creating a pathway that will prepare community workers for the next decade of service,” said Professor Shorten.   “This partnership is more than an educational initiative – it is an investment in people, in community, and in the future of compassionate care.”   And the demand for services is rising.   Brendan said the co-designed Professional Certificate would give Project 614 staff and volunteers the tools they needed to act swiftly, confidently and with compassion.   “This tailored course means our team can respond faster, more safely, and with greater care, so no one slips through the cracks,” he said.   “Training that mirrors real conditions leads to tangible results: earlier identification of health issues, smoother referrals and better continuity of care. That’s how a course becomes a catalyst for community-level change.”   For more than a decade, Melbourne Project 614 has been at the frontline of community support. A large crowd gathered to celebrate an exciting new partnership between The Salvation Army's Project 614 and the University of Canberra at the Salvo's premises in Bourke St, Melbourne.   Since 2011, the Magpie Nest Café at 69 Bourke Street has been offering free meals, creating a safe space where individuals can find dignity, connection and practical assistance.   The café has evolved into a unique integrated services hub, bringing multiple organisations together under one roof to meet people where they are and remove barriers to essential health and disability supports.   As demand for these services grows, the opening of a new café in Footscray and increasing interest from local councils to establish similar cafes in their own areas highlight the need for a strong, skilled workforce more than ever.   And Professor Shorten has long championed the work of Project 614.   “Project 614 has been doing great work in the community,” he said.   “They have extensive knowledge and understanding of the needs of the communities, so a partnership to deliver an education pathway solution was a logical next step to meet their workforce needs.   “This partnership will build a sustainable, skilled workforce that can support individuals with dignity and professionalism. The one-stop-shop model is guiding similar initiatives across Victoria, and I’m hopeful that with a solid training pathway, it can act as a blueprint for frontline community work across the country.”   Brendan praised the University of Canberra leadership for turning “an idea into a living, breathing pathway for change”.   “The passion of the University of Canberra team has been extraordinary,” he said. “Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Professor Rachel Gibson, and Professor Tanya Lawlis have brought rigour and heart in equal measure, and Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten has championed this work from the top.” Click through the slideshow below for more photos from the event:     ​​ ​​

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 ( 23-29 March ) we pray for The Salvation Army in the Italy and Greece Territory.   The Italy and Greece Territory has 33 officers (21 active, 12 retired); 7 Envoys; 14 corps; 217 senior soldiers; 89 adherents; 23 junior soldiers; 32 employees.   Lieut-Colonels Andrew and Darlene Morgan lead the territory. The work of the region includes: ·      Homelessness services ·      Modern slavery and human trafficking response.   The leaders of this territory have shared the following points to guide us as we pray: Specifically for Greece We give thanks for the dedication of officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers. Please pray for the ongoing ministry of the Green Light Projec t in Athens, as The Salvation Army’s presence continues in Greece. Pray for all aspects of the closures of the corps in Athens and Thessaloniki over the coming months: for spiritual and practical care for those who frequent the corps, the transition of officers to new appointments, property logistics, and legal matters. Pray for the Lord’s guidance for any re-pioneering in the future. Specifically for Italy We give thanks for a successful Angel Tree initiative during the end of last year. Many nationwide businesses partnered with corps, centres, and Salvationists to bring gifts to nearly 400 children in need across nine communities. Pray that relationships with families will be nurtured and will bear life-changing and spiritual fruit. Pray that community support for the vulnerable, and that The Salvation Army, will continue to develop. Please pray for the Men’s Rallies that will be held in the north and south of Italy on 11 and 18 April which are designed to encourage reflection, discussion, and personal growth. Pray that men will be encouraged to be visible and vocal pillars of faith in their families and communities. Please pray for final preparations for the Women’s Retreat being held 30 May – 02 June. Pray that God will prepare a way for the women he desires to be present. Pray that families and communities of Italy will be transformed through the Spirit’s work in the lives of women. Pray for those whom God is calling to full time ministry. We also pray for the wellbeing of officers and leaders, many of whom have multiple roles and appointments. Pray for wisdom, Jesus-centred and mission-centred priorities, and joy! Pray for the ongoing transformation of the territory’s largest social centre in Rome, as buildings receive certification, vulnerable individuals are once again received, and qualified staff are hired for this ministry of compassion and care. And pray that the ongoing implementation of the territorial strategic plan will sharpen ministry priorities and bear the fruit of more individuals, families and communities being transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To find out more about the Italty and Greece Territory, click here . To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here . To download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here .

Barbara Bolton launches her book, Booth’s Drum, in 1980. (Right) Barbara collecting donations for The Salvation Army in a Melbourne pub. BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE   As of 27 June 2026, it will be 30 years since the Promotion to Glory of Major Barbara Bolton, a Salvation Army officer and journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald and the Salvation Army editorial department.   While we often tend to venerate the dead, it takes a great deal for someone to be considered remarkable, one of a kind. In her tragically short life, which ended at just 54, Barbara authored Booth’s Drum , the only comprehensive history of The Salvation Army in Australia, and one of only a few histories of the Christian church in the nation. Barbara was also the writer behind the Ginger Brown character, who featured in a weekly segment in The Young Soldier .   Additionally, outside of the Army, Barbara pushed the boundaries as a journalist, at one point documenting a week of living on unemployment benefits on the streets of Sydney for The Sydney Morning Herald . Barbara also wrote several children’s books, most notable among them being Jandy Malone and the Nine O’Clock Tiger , which received a commendation from The Children’s Book Council of Australia.   Over several months, I spoke with many of Barbara’s friends, an accomplished group who spent their early days in The Salvation Army, and some of whom went on to serve as officers.   Lieut-Col Frank Daniels For two years as a young Salvationist in the 1960s, retired officer Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Daniels spent every Sunday with Barbara in Melbourne.   “I used to pick her up from our friend’s place on a Sunday morning,” Frank says. “She’d come to Thornbury East [Corps], and she would help with Sunday school, and then come to the morning meeting, then we’d spend the day together. She’d come home [with me], and we’d have lunch. She was very impractical as far as anything domestic was concerned, so I used to do all that for her.”   Frank says Barbara was often “in another world”. The two had met at Frank’s 21st birthday party. Frank said the party atmosphere had been loud and boisterous, and while wandering through the venue, he found Barbara sitting in a corner, finishing an article.   “She could be in that setting and yet be focused on writing an article,” Frank says.   He describes arriving at Barbara’s house one day to find a strong smell emanating from her kitchen. He asked her what it was. “[She said] ‘Oh! I put the peas on for tea, and I forgot to turn them off!’”   Frank says Barbara was not afraid to go against the grain and engage in political demonstrations, such as campaigning against Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. He says he remembers her marching in the demonstration, but without realising, she had put her officer’s hat on back to front.   “That was a political statement, but [for] Barb, I don’t think that reached her brain,” Frank says.   Frank says Barbara’s love of those on the margins or facing oppression was a trait that went back to her teenage years living in Tasmania. After Barbara’s father died of tuberculosis, Barbara spent some time living with her aunt in Hobart, where she saw the heartbreaking reality of poverty for the first time. While she was in school, the State Parliamentarian for Welfare addressed the assembly. Barbara, disagreeing with a point she made, stood up and contradicted her.   “She was always very much keen on social justice, feeding the poor and looking after the poor,” Frank says. “I’ve known her to give away her last dollar. That’s the sort of person she was.”   Frank says even while she was in the editorial department, she continued volunteering on the frontlines at The Salvation Army. He remembers how one elderly, isolated homeless man was very ill, and she washed his clothes and visited him in hospital almost daily.   But Frank says Barbara’s love of social justice and thoughtless streak sometimes put her in harm’s way. After assisting with homelessness responses at Little Bourke Street Corps in the Melbourne CBD on a Friday night, Barbara would walk home to her house in Normanby Avenue, Richmond.   “She’d just wander home through the Fitzroy Gardens, and I used to say to her, ‘Barb, you shouldn’t be doing that at night!’ She seemed to be oblivious to a lot of things. She was unique, and we loved her for it.”   As a corps officer, Barbara struggled in the role. As administrative skills didn’t come easily to her, she found the daily work of management challenging. And there was another problem.   “She wasn’t very musical at all,” Frank says. “She couldn’t sing to save her life, so leading the actual meetings and services was difficult.”   Whenever I spoke with someone about Barbara, eventually, they would begin to laugh. It was contagious laughter, the kind that starts out quietly and builds to an unstoppable giggle. Whether it was her lack of practical ability, her unusual dress style, her attempts at music and cooking or her witty sense of humour, almost 30 years after her death, I found it remarkable that her friends hadn’t stopped finding her amusing. Barbara Bolton at different stages of life – (from left) as a young senior soldier, as an officer captain, and later as a major. Major Jenny Begent Major Jenny Begent, another friend of Barbara’s, also remembers her friend’s musical ventures. Jenny says Barbara was already a seasoned officer when Jenny began in the Army, and one whom Jenny always admired for never being afraid to say what she thought. Jenny says Barbara was hilarious, and often “unwittingly so”.   “I remember she was once the editor of The Musician , which was a paper we used to have that circulated to all our musical sections, and she knew not a word about music. She couldn’t read it, she couldn’t sing. She was tone deaf,” Jenny says. “And they made her the editor of The Musician . I remember we had the International Staff Band out here. When the ISB arrived, she went to the concert to write about it, and she didn’t mention one piece of music. She didn’t have a clue!”   Jenny also recalls Barbara trying to find ways to make even the dullest of tasks amusing. Jenny says Barbara had a knack for “taking the mickey out of everybody at the same time”.   “We both ended up on the vehicle committee,” Jenny says. “It was the most boring thing. [One time], someone had hit a stationary object, and they used the word ‘stationery’ as in pens and pencils. And Barbara said, ‘Do you reckon it was a ruler?’”   But alongside Barbara’s sense of humour and knack for finding the ridiculous, Barbara’s friends remember her fondly as someone who was exceptionally bright, and who had a profound impact on those whom she encountered. They remember her sermons and how confident she was when speaking without notes. One notable example was a four-part sermon series she gave at what was the Fitzroy Corps, in which she spoke on Revelation and the idea of a new heaven and a new earth, from a basis of restoration theology.   Major David Eldridge Her friend, retired officer Major David Eldridge, remembers her being “well-read”.   “She had the gift of making complex ideas accessible for people,” he says. “Barbara took the Bible seriously, but not literally. And it fed her actions as well. They weren’t just words with Barb.”   And they weren’t. David says that at one point, one friend visited Barbara’s apartment and found that she had no electricity. As it turned out, she had paid her neighbour’s power bill and had no money left to pay her own. When their friendship group would play Monopoly, Barbara would refuse to purchase any properties and stuck to buying up utilities “because she was a good socialist”, according to David.   “She was radical, but in her own quiet way,” David says. “She was always in trouble with somebody.”   Barbara’s social conscience came through in her work. A piece by Barbara in the 7 July 1990 edition of The War Cry titled ‘The church that refused to die’ examines the reasons Christian belief persisted in Eastern Europe despite Soviet control.   Barbara’s conclusion captures the essence of her unwavering belief in a God who can overcome any political turmoil.   “In Eastern Europe, the Church has refused to die because its Lord is too vigorous, too vital, too alive for death. He was the element official Communism never understood, and in the end, He will beat it. He is also the element which official Capitalism has never understood, and He will beat that too.   “Christ and Christ alone is unconquerable.”   In a War Cry piece on the AIDS epidemic, Barbara expressed a desire for those facing the disease to be treated with compassion and tolerance.   “In spite of the efforts of Christians to provide HIV/AIDS education, there is still prejudice in religious circles,” Barbara wrote. “Some still see AIDS as God’s weapon against promiscuity. For many Christians, AIDS is still the disease that happens to ‘other’ people, a disease which is ‘deserved’.   “Yet Jesus said very clearly that human beings did not have the right to judge one another. Mercy always came at the top of His moral agenda.”   Ross Gittins The child of Salvation Army officer parents and renowned economics journalist and editor Ross Gittins credits his start in journalism to Barbara, who encouraged him to use his writing skills.   “She did a lot to encourage me to write for her and her publications,” Ross says. “She was really encouraging me to be a kind of amateur journalist, and we became friends and exchanged a lot of letters.   “I may not have ended up as a journalist had it not been for the encouragement Barbara gave me [then].”   Later, when Barbara was on a break from the Army and looking for work, Ross secured her a job as a Church Reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald . During this time, Barbara would share a meal with Ross and his wife every Sunday evening.   Soon after, Barbara was again in the editorial department and was later appointed to International Headquarters, where she was editor of All the World .   Ross remembers being on a British Government press junket during this time, in which he found himself with plenty of spare time. He spent it eating in restaurants, watching movies, visiting concerts, and spending time with other Salvationist friends with Barbara. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, Barbara needed the aid of a wheelchair in her 50s. It was then, while Barbara was living in London, that she discovered she was suffering from the disease that would eventually shorten her life: multiple sclerosis.   Barbara’s difficult diagnosis was not the first battle she faced with courage and pragmatism. Her reason for taking time out of The Salvation Army was known only to her closest friends. David Eldridge remembers the cost of the generosity and kindness that Barbara so consistently showed to those around her. He says she had her struggles with mental health, as a result of a life marked by stress and constant giving.   “Barbara could be depressed and could work herself into a state of exhaustion. And I think she got to that point. I think she just got drained and was looking for something else,” he says.   John Cleary Another of Barbara’s friends, John Cleary, a veteran ABC broadcaster and religion commentator, remembers his “extraordinary” friend as someone who was so easy to like that even when her views were at odds with those around her, she managed to maintain strong connections.   “I think even those people who disagreed with Barbara would never have had an argument with her,” he says. “She was just one of those people who treated everybody with kindness and civility, even when she knew she deeply disagreed with them.   “I think it’d be hard to find anybody who had a bad word to say about Barbara.”   He remembers her feeling crushed following the publication of Booth’s Drum , as her hopes for the book were dashed when the rigorous research she had put into the work over a very short period of time was removed, in order to make the narrative more accessible to a Salvation Army audience. This choice made the book, which could have otherwise been a groundbreaking work at an academic level, far less valuable as a documented history. The original cover of Barbara’s book, Booth’s Drum.  “It must have hurt her enormously to have that, because all the work counted for nothing outside of the Army,” John says.   When Barbara died in 1996, she left behind an enormous body of work across multiple Salvation Army publications, children’s books and media. But her friends remember her as someone who didn’t just push the boundaries in her work, but who really understood what it meant to minister to others in a rapidly changing world.   John says her death was a sudden loss of someone who deeply understood the currents within society and within The Salvation Army.   “What was lost was somebody who understood the Army to its core but was also connected to the reality of society now, and that was very unusual for an officer to be that well-connected in both,” he says. “She got it. And that was a profound loss.”

General Lyndon Buckingham gives the keynote address at the International Conference of Leaders, currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya. Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Territorial Commander of the Australia Territory, has joined other territorial and senior leaders from around the world for the International Conference of Leaders (ICL) in Kenya. “ A great start to the conference with an inspiring keynote from the General,” said Miriam. “A wonderful group of people from around the world. What a family! The Salvation Army – God’s good idea!” So far, the ICL has included the General’s keynote address, a cultural evening, and local worship with 10,000 Kenyans and others in attendance. Aussies at the ICL (from left) Commissioners Geoff and Kalie Webb, Commissioners Kelvin and Cheralynne Pethybridge, Colonels Phil and Deslea Maxwell and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas. READ MORE: New, schedules, photos and more from the 2026 ICL Day 1 For the first day’s news, continue reading or follow online here . “This is holy ground! Ours is a sacred task! The Lord is with us!” declared General Lyndon Buckingham on 21 March 2026, the opening day of The Salvation Army’s International Conference of Leaders (ICL) in Nairobi, Kenya. The movement’s international leader delivered a powerful keynote address after 120 senior Salvation Army leaders had arrived in Nairobi from all points of the globe. The atmosphere in the room was one of high anticipation as the General brought a comprehensive and impassioned account of gratefulness to God for the delegates and their committed leadership, determination to face challenges and vision for the future! “I’m so pleased that we are able to gather here in Kenya, the first time an International Conference of Leaders has taken place in Africa. That is fantastic!” the General remarked, his comments being met with heartfelt applause. “Many African leaders were unable to make it to the last conference [in Vancouver, Canada], but this time you’re all here! You matter and your voices are important.” General Buckingham then turned his attention to the full complement of delegates. “As we gather today, I am very conscious of the tremendous responsibility you carry as senior shepherds and stewards of this global movement … Your appointments, entrusted to you by the General, call on you to be stewards of the global aims of the movement represented within your territory … your contribution to the mission of The Salvation Army is deeply appreciated and I say to you today, thank you.” He also encouraged the delegates to find “great assurance and confidence” in the fact that the Lord was with them at the conference. “We sense the reverence and the seriousness of our gathering. We see it as an act of worship; a holy, spiritual responsibility … Lord, we want to hear from you … Heavenly Father, we belong to you.” Challenging times The global leader painted a picture of the current world environment in which Compass, The Salvation Army’s new Global Strategic Framework, was designed to help the movement reach for higher levels of impact and effectiveness throughout the world. He said The Salvation Army was weathering global storms, including the lasting impact of a global pandemic, geopolitical uncertainty, a rise in nationalism, and wars and rumours of wars. The rising difficulty in obtaining visas, the closure of borders, registration difficulties in India and the withdrawal of international funding support was affecting The Salvation Army’s ability to appoint and move leaders and support international mission initiatives, he said. Protest movement The feeling in the room went up a notch when General Buckingham said that despite such volatility and uncertainty The Salvation Army continued to be salt, light and a beacon of hope, healing and salvation for the world. "I want to suggest to you this morning that the very existence of our movement is in and of itself a protest; we are a protest movement. We are a living, active, global demonstration. We are! That’s us! We are the placards, a visible resistance … “I mean this in the most positive of terms. We are a visible resistance that dares to declare, in both word and action and amid all of the uncertainty, that there is hope, that there is a way, that there is a Saviour, that there is salvation for the world. This is our work on the planet, to be a visible demonstration that God has not given up, that God has not abandoned us, that God has not turned his back on us. We stand as a testimony that his Kingdom is coming – has come and is coming. We are a visible testimony, a protest that says no – greed, selfishness, arrogance, power do not have to win the day. “No! There’s a better way. It’s the way of love, it’s the way of grace, it’s the way of mercy, it’s the way of welcome, it’s the way of healing, it’s the way of holiness. We are a demonstration movement. O my goodness, Lord, let our demonstration on this planet be powerful in your hands; help us to be extremely good stewards of our demonstration. May our placards bring honour and glory to your name. And we are better at this together than we are apart.” During the speech, General Buckingham confirmed that he had received a clean bill of health following a medical emergency last year while in Hong Kong, and shared that, by God the Holy Spirit’s help, he and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham would complete the term of office entrusted to them. He also called the delegates’ attention to Acts 15:28 , encouraging a conference that unfolded in such a way that “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”. Out of many, one Earlier in the day, Chief of the Staff Commissioner Edward Hill welcomed all to the conference, encouraging delegates to ‘be engaged, be involved and make a contribution’. He acknowledged that it was the first ICL under the leadership of General Buckingham and brought devotions from Galatians 3:23-28 with the theme E Pluribus Unum (‘Out of Many, One’), reflecting the profound diversity of origins among conference delegates yet their experience of being one in Christ. “Unity and equality in Christ is the pure fragrance of the gospel,” said Commissioner Hill. For a quick overview of the first couple of days, click on the slideshow below:

Twenty-three personnel from SAES gathered at Collaroy for the workshop weekend. BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE The Salvation Army Emergency Services NSW/ACT teams gathered recently to connect with one another, learn more about their roles and build stronger teams.  The event, held at The Collaroy Centre in Sydney’s Northern Beaches on 14-15 March, offered a chance for SAES volunteers and staff to discuss issues relating to response and recovery, and increase their knowledge and competency. Norm Archer, SAES Response Coordinator for NSW/ACT, said he began planning the workshop-focused event three years ago, and it went “spectacularly” well.  “We’re blessed in that the [NSW] State Government gives us a bucket of money to train volunteers,” Norm said. “So that lets me run these workshops.”  Norm Archer serving at a recent event attended by SAES NSW/ACT crews. Twenty-three people attended the worshop, including 20 volunteers. Alongside Norm were Senior Program Manager for Response and Wellbeing Major Bindy Lupis and one other staff member. Norm said he intentionally called the training events workshops, as each one was very much a two-way learning experience. Attendees participated in a number of topics, including using incident management software effectively, how to use new equipment, teamwork, volunteer activation and wellbeing.   Norm said it was also an important chance for people to network, get to know each other and share stories and problems. It was crucial for volunteers to feel supported, he said, and that the weekend was a chance for the volunteers who attended to be better equipped to engage and come alongside the 500 volunteers throughout the state.  “A big theme through the weekend was that they are supported, and help is a phone call away,” he said.   “Unless we’ve got volunteers on the ground, very, very, very little, if anything happens. It doesn’t happen without them. That’s the really important thing, that I want acknowledged and promoted and applauded.”

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, clothing, poverty, the Bible and the Sabbath, industrial relations and more.   “A clean body usually accompanies a pure mind.” – General William Booth   Freshening up BY GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH Salvation Army co-founder   (The article below is General William Booth’s original transcript.)   My dear comrades, I’ve previously written about the desirability of a clean house, clean furniture, and, as far as possible, of everything else within its walls being clean. But I only alluded very slightly to the most important item of all, the Cleanliness of the inmates! Perhaps this would be a convenient moment in our discussion of Religion for Every Day to make a remark or two on that subject. Unhappily, some people do not attach very much importance to a clean body. They will paint their faces, cover themselves with showy garments and with falderals and jewellery, while all the time their bodies are unwashed and otherwise defiled from head to foot. Some Salvationists are not, I am sorry to say, altogether free from blame in this respect. Although they may not pay quite so much attention to the outside of the platter, they are sadly wanting in care for what is far more important. This should not be. The Apostle Paul is very definite on the subject, not only commanding that the heart should be purified from evil, but in Hebrews distinctly requiring that the body should be “washed with pure water”. Now, a clean body includes and implies the frequent cleansing, from every kind of defilement, of the head and hands and feet and every part of the frame. This kind of purity has many advantages. A clean body is promotive of health. Scientists – that is, men of learning, who have studied the subject – tell us that there are millions of little openings in the human body provided for the purpose of expelling the impurities of the blood, and drinking in the health-promoting properties of the light and air. It is of the highest importance to health, that these little pores, as they are called, should be kept as clean as possible, in order that they may efficiently serve their purpose. Now, if all, or a portion, of these millions of little mouths are allowed to be closed by dirt, it can readily be seen that disease of one kind or another will probably be the consequence. A clean body will be agreeable to the people with whom you associate. Dirty faces, fingers, teeth, or the like, will be very distasteful to those around you, especially, if they have any proper notions on the subject; and, as dirt has many ways of making its presence known, it will ordinarily produce sensations of unpleasantness, if not of disgust. Clean body – pure heart A clean body usually accompanies a pure mind. There will, no doubt, be any number of individuals who have the former without the latter; they will be Cleanliness itself, from top to toe, while at the same time they never knew a pure mind, nor do they care for the pearl of greatest price – a Clean Heart. But although, as a quaint old preacher says, “God has some very dirty children,” there will not be many of His people who have purity within, who will not instinctively seek to be clean without. Cleanliness, in the sense in which I am using the term, is possible to all. I am aware that many who will read this Letter have to earn their daily bread by employments that necessarily begrime their clothes and soil their persons; among such are colliers, foundry men, stokers, some kinds of mill workers, and the like. But dirt which is thus accumulated, may be correctly styled “clean dirt”; and, with ordinary care, such workers can keep themselves as sweet and clean as their Comrades who labour under different conditions. Soap, nowadays, can be had in endless variety at a very low cost, and water is abundant, while the little labour involved in the cleansing is a healthy exercise. Everybody should have a good wash over in clean water, from top to toe, at least once a week. There need be no difficulty about this with the great majority of our Soldiers. A tub, large enough to sit down in, can be had for a trifle; a kettle full of hot water – rain water is preferable, but if not procurable, a very small piece of washing soda will go far to soften hard water – with a flat piece of soap and a good-sized towel are all that is required. It is not necessary to uncover the whole body at once. The process should be commenced by washing the upper parts of the body. The cleansing of the lower parts can follow. If anyone wants to know what can be done, in the way of Cleanliness, with a tub of warm water and the will to be clean, let them go into some of the coal districts, and learn what the colliers can do in this respect. By the same method many of you can take a cold bath every morning. In winter it should not be quite cold. A Lamp Bath* [electric light bath] … is a very simple and useful bath, and may be taken once a week, at a trifling cost. It not only serves to open and cleanse the pores, thus promoting the Cleanliness I am advocating, but refreshes and invigorates the whole system. A Turkish Bath now and then will be found useful to those who can afford it. This kind of bath has grown quite popular of late, and may be had in the evenings, in many of the principal towns, at a low price. But for the promotion of Cleanliness, a good Lamp Bath is almost as useful, is more economical, will occupy less time, and can be taken in your own room, and at the hour that may be found most, convenient. * A Lamp Bath or Electric Light Bath was a part of a fad known as light therapy, or heliotherapy, to treat conditions such as diabetes, meningitis and rheumatism, by breakfast cereal pioneer John Harvey Kellogg. Exponents suggest the use of light helps treat psoriasis, acne and some sleep disorders. NEXT WEEK: General William Booth’s thoughts on sleep. *This series has been compiled by Barry Gittins, The Salvation Army Australia Museum Specialist (Melbourne)