The Dalziels, original members of The Joystrings, sharing with staff at International Headquarters in London last week. Retired Lieut-Colonels Peter and Sylvia Dalziel – two original members of The Salvation Army’s pioneering pop group from the 1960s, The Joystrings – were special guests at International Headquarters (IHQ) last week.   At the IHQ Family Prayers event on Thursday 28 January, The Dalziels presented a fascinating account of how five unsuspecting young Salvationists from The Salvation Army’s International Training College in London were thrust into the popular music spotlight, enabling them to share the story of Jesus and God’s lovingkindness in some of the most unlikely places.   These included Soho’s Playboy Club and lunchtime engagements at the Ford Motor Company, where they played to staff. Many thousands responded to their music and their message!   Part of the post-WWII explosion of new young pop acts, they rubbed shoulders with the likes of The Beatles at Abbey Road studios, Tom Jones, the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits. They had several Top 40 hits, the first being ‘It’s an Open Secret’. All of their songs carried the message of the difference that faith in God makes. The Joystrings – Peter Dalziel, Joy Webb, Sylvia (Gair) Dalziel, Wycliffe Noble and Bill Davidson. The story of The Joystrings, said Peter and Sylvia, reminds us how God opens doors in extraordinary ways, and we need to be ready to walk through them.   These ‘God-doors’ lead to opportunities far beyond anything we could imagine; how Holy Spirit-led sharing of the love and redemption of Jesus can happen through bold and unconventional ways when God has the pre-eminence in our lives and the life of The Salvation Army.   The original five-member Joystrings were led by classically trained keyboard player and singer Joy Webb.   After appearing on Cliff Michelmore’s BBC Tonight television show, they were given a recording contract by EMI Records. In 1964, they became the first Salvation Army pop group to achieve chart success with ‘ It’s an Open Secret ’ and ‘A Starry Night’.   The Dalziels promote Sylvia’s book at the IHQ event. The main members through the years were Joy Webb (who wrote the group's first hit), Peter and Sylvia Dalziel, Bill Davidson and Wycliffe Noble. The group had a number of other singers drawn, at intervals, from cadets at the William Booth Memorial College at Denmark Hill, London.   In September 2013, 50 years after the Joystrings' formation, Sylvia Dalziel published her memoir,  The Joystrings: The Story of the Salvation Army Pop Group . The book can be purchased here . Wycliffe Noble was promoted to glory on 1 April 2017, aged 91, and  Joy Webb died on 1 October 2023, also aged 91. *Story reproduced from The Salvation Army International Facebook site and other facts from Wikipedia WATCH MORE: The Joystrings – The Salvation Army pop group

Throughout the Old Testament, God is repeatedly described as being compassionate, writes Captain Laura Van Schaick. Image: Getty BY CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK* Empathy has been getting a bad rap lately. The book Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion by Allie Beth Stuckey, which became a New York Times bestseller in late 2024, argues that “empathy has become a tool of manipulation”. Josh McPherson, lead pastor of Grace City Church in Wenatchee, Washington, shared in a March 2025 podcast that “empathy almost needs to be struck from the Christian vocabulary.” Even PBS News published an article in August 2025 posing the question, “Is empathy a sin?” Obviously, the word empathy has become contentious, particularly in some Christian circles. Historian Susan Lanzoni, who explored empathy’s uses and definitions in her 2018 book Empathy: A History , shared with PBS that “she has never seen the aspirational term so derided as it is now”. Granted, the word hasn’t been around all that long. Empathy appeared in an English publication for the first time in 1908, taken from a German word, meaning “in-feeling.” Today’s common definition, “the ability to understand and appreciate another person’s feelings,” comes from a 1946 professional psychology journal. However, despite being relatively new to the English language, the idea behind the word empathy is much older. In fact, it forms a core teaching across many religions, including Christianity. Nijay Gupta, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Illinois, suggests on his blog that “the Bible is, in fact, a story of empathy, God’s compassion for us who are sinners (which is all of us), and his desperate and relentless pursuit of redemption.” Throughout the Old Testament, God is repeatedly described as being compassionate. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the term eusplanchnos , which literally means “good-guts”—significant for a culture that associated guts with feelings and human depth of emotion. Jesus also repeatedly demonstrated this during his ministry on earth. When Jesus saw the crowds around him, we read that he often felt compassion for them (see Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32). Jesus recognized and responded to the emotions and pain of others. As Gupta points out, “He did not talk about why they were poor or struggling or lost. He just wanted to help them.” The Apostle Paul also seems to teach about the importance of empathy in his letter to the Romans when he urges the early Christians to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). He is encouraging people to understand, appreciate and even enter into another’s emotional experience, to embrace the feelings of those around them. This is the definition of empathy. And then, of course, there is the Incarnation of Jesus. When Jesus took on human form, he embodied empathy, experiencing the full range of human emotions, limitations and suffering. Empathy is not a New Age concept, nor is it dangerous. It is deeply biblical. Our ability to experience empathy is something that sets us apart as those made in the image of God, and when we show empathy, we are living as Jesus modelled. So why are so many Christians apparently threatened by it? The main concern seems to be the perception that, by embracing empathy, contemporary Western society is making decisions based on feelings rather than facts, moving us away from objectivity and blurring moral clarity. Some even fear that it makes us vulnerable to manipulation and affirms sinful actions. I find this type of thinking very black and white, when there needs to be a both/and approach. While I agree that we shouldn’t make decisions based solely on feelings, we should allow our capacity to recognize and respond to suffering to shape our decisions and help us form and inform policy to create a healthy society. God gave us the ability to think rationally and respond emotionally to the pain of others. The two are not mutually exclusive. A quote attributed to philosopher Hannah Arendt, who wrote extensively in the 1950s on totalitarianism and the human condition, hits a bit too close to home: “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.” The heart of the gospel has always been a radical, countercultural call to love extravagantly and without limitations. What if, rather than fearing empathy, we stayed focused on what Jesus taught was important? Welcoming the stranger, showing hospitality to the foreigner, extending compassion to the marginalized, caring for the widow and the orphan. May we imitate our empathetic God, not fearing our feelings, but embracing them as we seek to live out the command to love our neighbours as ourselves. *Captain Laura Van Schaick is the corps officer at Barrhaven Church in Ottawa, Canada, and the Territorial Gender Equity Officer. This article first appeared in Salvationist Magazine here .

Cadets of the 2026 ‘Rescued’ session in relaxed mode during Orientation Week this week – (from left) Mike Salomo, Rachelle Atkinson, Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice, Chantal Tait, Jessica Gorringe, Caleb Gorringe, Reuben Van Gaalen, Bramwell Nemhara and Wati Seeto. BY LERISSE SMITH ​​​​ Laugh, learn – and love much! These three powerful words set the tone for an unforgettable Orientation Week for this year’s nine cadets of The Salvation Army’s  Rescued  session at Melbourne’s Eva Burrows College. The special event held this week centred on exploring what to expect in 2026, introductions to the rhythm of college life, invitations to reflect on their journey of becoming in Christ, opportunities to celebrate and worship in community, as well as time and space to embrace unplanned moments of grace. “Orientation Week offers a sacred, life-giving encouragement designed for the cadets’ growth,” said Captain Kylie Herring, Leader Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College. “We encourage the cadets to open their hearts fully to the experience – to laugh, learn and love much!” The 2026 cadets of the  Rescued  session are: Caleb Gorringe (Long Jetty Corps, NSW), Jessica Gorringe (Long Jetty Corps, NSW), Chantal Tait (Kwinana Corps, WA), Mike Salomo (Macarthur Corps, NSW), Rachelle Atkinson (Mandurah Corps, WA), Reuben Van Gaalen (Coffs Harbour Corps, NSW), Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice (Waverley Corps, Vic.), Bramwell Nemhara (Perth Fortress, WA) and Wati Seeto (Fiji). A defining verse marked the beginning of the cadets’ big week: “ Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect well” (Romans 12:2). An exciting, jam-packed week of fun, fellowship and friendship shaped Orientation Week. The many highlights included an ‘Amazing Race’ around the college, dinner with new territorial executive leaders Colonels John and Lani Chamness, and orientation formation sessions covering personal, spiritual, educational, theology, mission and ministry streams.  Dark Side of the Rainbow , an immersive music and film experience, also formed part of the week’s program. Sacred pauses throughout the week allowed the cadets to reflect on their new life journey. Watch a livestream of this event here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqbwA9S1oCE To cap off the week, the cadets are taking part in ‘Prison Island’ – a team-building and problem-solving adventure today held offsite in the city, followed by a retreat day at the Botanic Gardens tomorrow and a special ‘Cadet Welcome’ service at Camberwell Corps on Sunday. Kylie said the  Rescued  session was the largest intake in The Salvation Army’s territory for some time – an exciting milestone for all. Fifteen cadets are currently in Officer Training College, including six cadets of the  2025 ‘Proclaimers of the Transformation’ session. “It is certainly an answer to prayer, and we are thankful for corps officers across the territory who are working to identify, equip and empower emerging leaders,” Kylie said. Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas said she was encouraged by the fresh intake of cadets. “I am rapt that we have nine new cadets this year, on top of the six already in session,” she enthused. “And we have made auxiliary-lieutenants officers over the past months and there’s more to come. “God is doing his new thing and l am so grateful. Join me in thanking God and praying for more leaders!”

Alice and James Barker established Prison-Gate Homes and Rescue Homes (for women) throughout Australia and New Zealand. BY BARRY GITTINS A young couple from the United Kingdom stepped foot on Australian soil on 21 September 1882, disembarking from the SS Cotopax . The Salvation Army’s newly appointed leaders for the Antipodes, Major James Barker and Mrs Alice Barker, had only gotten hitched the day before they went sailing to the other side of the world. James, a printer by trade, was appointed by General William Booth to mix things up Down Under, with the grand title of ‘Australasia Provincial Commander’. And mixing things up is a fair description of the Barkers’ energetic and far-reaching leadership. The Barkers originally planned to arrive in Adelaide, where the Army’s work had officially commenced the previous year under the direction of Thomas and Adelaide Sutherland, but due to labour problems on the Adelaide wharf, the ship was forwarded to Melbourne, where the Barkers disembarked, not knowing a single soul.   However, they were met by one person, 74-year-old Dr John Singleton, the founder of several Christian-oriented welfare agencies, who had heard of the Barkers’ impending arrival. An early-day Salvationist greets two released prisoners outside the gaol gates. James’ friendship and mentoring relationship with the doctor – a philanthropist and leading citizen – led to the Army engaging with prisoners both inside and outside the walls of gaols. Alice and James Barker went on to establish Prison-Gate Homes in Melbourne, Sydney, Ballarat, Auckland and Castlemaine, and also Rescue Homes (for women) in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Sydney, Brisbane, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin. It was the beginning of the Army’s formal, institutional social work throughout the world. James and Alison Barker with their young daughter during their appointment in the ‘Southern Seas’. James was also empowered by the colonial authorities to act as a special constable, taking children out of opium dens and brothels in Melbourne’s CBD and relocating them to safer locations. Dr Singleton had famously met and prayed with the bushranger, Ned Kelly, before he was hanged in 1880. And in 1884, it was his ‘mentee’, James Barker, who enabled Kelly’s executioner, Elijah Upjohn, to join The Salvation Army. A contemporary newspaper later reported: “Upjohn, the ex-public executioner, caused a great sensation at The Salvation Army service last night. He presented himself among the penitents. A number of officers raised an objection and refused to associate with the discarded hangman. Major Barker, however, was firm and received Upjohn as a recruit.” Upjohn was reportedly promoted to glory in 1885. The principle of including people – not judging them – has been an issue the Army has wrestled with ever since. After his Australasian adventures, James Barker’s role back in the UK in implementing the General’s ‘In Darkest England’ scheme, and revolutionising the matchstick industry into the bargain, is another stirring chapter in a well-storied life. It is also recorded that he was instrumental in producing the first War Cry publication in England in December 1879. James Barker was promoted to glory in May 1901, aged 49, succumbing to a diabetes-related illness. Alice Barker was promoted to glory in 1918 at the height of the influenza epidemic. READ MORE: Founder of the Salvos’ social work in Australia

The banner of the new Facebook page for The Salvation Army Australia Museum. The Australia Territory Communications team has launched a new Facebook page for The Salvation Army Australia Museum.   To go to the Facebook page, click here .   The territory has two branches of the museum – in Melbourne (69 Bourke St) and Sydney (166-170 South Parade, Auburn).   Museum Specialists Barry Gittins (Melbourne) and Don Callaghan (Sydney) will regularly update the Facebook page with information and excerpts from our proud Army history. Museum Specialists Barry Gittins (left) and Don Callaghan.   “They will honour the rich legacy of our founders and reflect on the stories, people, and artefacts that shaped The Salvation Army in Australia – while also celebrating how their bold vision continues to guide our mission and ministry today,” said the Communication Department’s Publications Manager, Cheryl Tinker. “From the past to the present, this is a story still being lived.”   We invite you to follow the new Facebook page and experience historical memorabilia, photographs, and records related to The Salvation Army’s operations in Australia from 1880 to the present day.   Salvos Online will continue to regularly upload stories on its Army Archives tab that expand on many of the museum’s Facebook posts.  Meantime, the Sydney branch of the museum, now based out of the Auburn Corps complex, is shaping up nicely. The museum (formerly known as a heritage centre) had been housed at The Salvation Army’s Bexley North property since 1983.   Late last year, Don Callaghan, the Museum Specialist in Sydney, spent months overseeing the packing and moving boxes of memorabilia and items of historic significance. “The museum is on the first floor, and office space and research space is on the second floor,” Don said. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday 9am-2pm, or by appointment: (02) 9502 0424. – Dean Simpson The new-look Salvation Army Australia Museum in Sydney now has thousands of items of historical significance on display.

Captain Oleg, (left) with his wife Captain Dominika Domanska, their daughter, and some members of the Warsaw Corps.. When Captain Oleg Samoilenko arrived in Poland, away from his Ukrainian homeland and all things familiar, everything felt like an uphill battle, but what began as a lonely appointment in Warsaw has become a vibrant international family. BY CAPTAIN OLEG SAMOILENKO   My name is Oleg and I am a Salvation Army officer. I am Ukrainian, but I currently serve as a corps officer in Warsaw, Poland.  I remember my first day at Warsaw Corps back in 2018. One older woman told me there was no place for foreigners in Poland, then the accountant at regional headquarters said she had no time for my questions, and the children at the after-school program did not understand me.   READ MORE: Where there is no more strength, Oleg's story It’s not easy being a foreigner! As an officer, I was keen to communicate with and to get to know my people, so it was difficult for me.  All the attempts I made to be accepted did not work. I was seen as an outsider, and for several years I felt like a stranger in my own corps. I frequently questioned God’s plan for me. Then war broke out in Ukraine in 2022, which brought more than 10 million fellow Ukrainians to Poland. My native language suddenly became so helpful in supporting these vulnerable and lost people, who had left everything to save their lives. God’s timing was starting to make sense.  READ MORE: The Salvation Army Ukraine One day, a woman from Zimbabwe came to our Sunday meeting. She started searching for other Zimbabwean Salvationists in Poland and, a few weeks later, she had found more than 30 people to encourage to attend the corps. Soon after, I was invited to a school that supports migrant children to talk about human trafficking. The young people were so interested in The Salvation Army, and they asked questions about what the Army had to offer them.  Oleg with some of the Zimbabwean youth who attend the corps. We invited them to the corps on the Friday evenings, and bought some games and pizzas for the occasion. Two boys turned up on the first night, but the following Friday they brought 20 friends. Some have since become senior soldiers or are currently going through membership classes.   One thing united them – they were all foreigners, living far from their homeland and trying to find a new home. I knew exactly how they felt and how hard life is as an immigrant.   Language presented one of the greatest challenges. While foreigners often strive to learn the language of their new home, full self-expression remains difficult and humour rarely translates. This becomes especially evident when attempting to pray in a foreign language.  Activities for all ages and cultures are a regular part of ministry. By creating opportunities for people to speak in their native tongue, we have facilitated profound and meaningful conversations. Cultural engagement through traditional cuisine and dance has further deepened these connections, often moving participants to tears. Such small gestures can have a significant impact. Over the years, in moments of doubt, I had questioned why God had placed me in a setting where I felt unwelcome; yet now, encountering these individuals in such circumstances provided clarity and affirmed the purpose behind this calling.    Today, more than 11 nationalities come to our services. We are an international family in which everyone is accepted. We welcome teenagers from Belarus and Ukraine, seniors from Ukraine, refugees from Zimbabwe, Uganda and the Philippines, and people from India and Russia. Our corps is now full of different languages and diverse cultures. All these people have experienced loneliness and discrimination, but in The Salvation Army they are all loved.   Youth from around the world make up some of the 15 languages spoken at the corps. Being a corps officer is now more than just an appointment: my corps is my family. We don’t look on our differences and instead focus on the things that unite us. What began as a struggle to belong became an opportunity to build a spiritual home for people scattered across nations – a family united not by nationality, but by faith and grace.    This article first appeared in The Salvation Army’s international online magazine All the World. It’s part of the  ‘Scattered’ column, inspired by Acts 8:4 : “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”   This column shares ministry perspectives of Salvation Army people serving away from their homeland or in remote and far-flung places.

First responders in Western Australia take a break for a burger and chips, courtesy of The Salvation Army Emergency Services. Image: Facebook BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE With bushfires burning across multiple states, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams are serving food and refreshments to fire crews at large response zones in Victoria and Western Australia. In some areas, corps have also collaborated with SAES to deliver assistance to communities impacted by fire. Crews in WA have spent the past eight days stationed at the Ravensthorpe fire , about five hours south of Perth, where at this stage they will remain until Friday. In addition, the crew spent some time serving meals and refreshments at the Boddington fire, several hours north of Ravensthorpe. Across the two sites, teams served more than 500 personnel at each mealtime. In Victoria, where in parts, temperatures have reached almost 49 degrees, fire crews have been battling to contain a series of blazes in the Otway Ranges, as well as multiple other fires. Victorian teams are facing such extraordinary demand for essentials such as beds, blankets and pillows that supplies are running out. The Victorian SAES have been deployed to a relief centre receiving evacuees from the regions near the Gellibrand, Carlisle River and Beech Forest fires. Yesterday, Victorian teams were also called to an industrial waste fire in Wollert and a grassfire in Camperdown, where 100 and 300 people required food and refreshments. Roads in Camperdown have been blocked, so food is being transported via helicopter. General Manager for Emergency, Aid and Development Daryl Crowden said he was thankful to the Western Victoria Regional team for organising and deploying the additional team for the Camperdown fire. The Salvation Army Emergency Services have been working with the local Colac Corps to provide bedding, material aid and meals for the relief centres at the Otway fire. Colac Corps in Victoria has been assisting in the fire response in the nearby Otway region. Corps Leader Josiah Van Niekerk said his team had been assisting SAES in the response efforts and were mostly concerned with ensuring that while immediate needs were met, evacuees were also getting adequate food assistance and referrals to services in preparation for returning home. He said the team at Colac Corps had opened the corps building to community members for showers, laundry and cool room storage, and was acquiring donations of water, food and other essentials to distribute. He said they had delivered cooked meals to fire crews until 2am this morning, and were back serving breakfast from 6.30am. He said it had been “really, really great” to be a part of seeing what the SAES teams do, and that the collective efforts had amounted to a “massive job”. “We’re open to exploring however we can support the community, and then even getting people connected in with other groups to ensure that the services and the material that is needed for these people to bring their life back together and get going again – we want to ensure that's accessible,” Josiah said. “It’s been a really great experience in that way, to be able to work as a community to ensure everyone's got support.”   Images from WA and Victoria, courtesy of SAES Facebook pages for each state.

Captain Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College, speaks at Commissioning service at Camberwell Corps, Melbourne, in 2024. There is a palpable buzz of excitement across The Salvation Army community, putting smiles of many faces. Why? Oh, that’s easy! One of the largest intakes of cadets in recent years – nine in total – arrives in Melbourne this week to begin a life-changing journey toward officership, a long-held dream for many. Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH spoke with Captain Kylie Herring, Leader Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College, who reflected on the excitement of new beginnings, the challenges ahead, the dynamic process of growth, and the reminder that maturity can’t be microwaved. The 2026 cadets of the Rescued session: Caleb Gorringe – Long Jetty Corps (NSW) Jessica Gorringe – Long Jetty Corps (NSW) Chantal Tait – Kwinana Corps (WA) Mike Salomo – Macarthur Corps (NSW) Rachelle Atkinson – Mandurah Corps (WA) Reuben Van Gaalen – Coffs Harbour Corps (NSW) Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice – Waverley Corps (Vic.) Bramwell Nemhara – Perth Fortress (WA) Wati Seeto – (Fiji)   Kylie, what excites you most about welcoming this new batch of cadets? Lots of things excite me when we start a new year in officer formation. Top of the list this year is that it is a large batch! The Rescued session is the largest session our territory has had for some time. It is certainly an answer to prayer, and we are thankful for corps officers across the territory working to identify, equip and empower emerging leaders. Each intake brings something unique. What stands out to you about this year’s cohort? The answer to that would be having three cadets from the WA Division. We’ve only had two cadets from WA since I commenced in my role in 2022 – so having three all together in the one session is terrific for us and for them. They will have session-mates close by, which we hope will make them feel less isolated. What do you hope cadets discover about themselves during their training and formation? There isn’t a short answer to that question! There is always a lot to discover and uncover when you pay attention to how you are forming across the three spheres – personal and spiritual, mission and ministry, education and theological, and then considering how you are integrating that learning into who you are and how you will minister and lead. We hope they would approach their own formation with curiosity and compassion and be willing to enlarge their sense of identity. From your perspective, what key qualities are most important for cadets as they work towards becoming officers? In a world now described as “super complex”, a key quality for just about anyone is to be a curious learner. One of our cadets talks about thinking like a scientist – which speaks to the need to be curious and open, to take care with your assumptions, to be aware of any biases, and to be careful in jumping to conclusions! Other qualities I would include on that list would be a commitment to growing in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, adaptive and strategic thinking, the ability to operate with flexibility, and an ability to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty, and hold a sense of hope in the midst of navigating the super complexity of our cultural era. Western Australia cadet Chantal Tait (with husband John behind her) was farewelled from Kwinana Corps by Major Scott Ellery on Sunday. How are cadets supported to grow not only professionally but also personally and spiritually throughout their training? There are a lot of support structures in place for cadets. Through their university studies, cadets are supported by student services and by individual lecturers. (As an aside, the University of Divinity has for a few years running had the highest rating for student experience – which says something about the level of commitment to their students). Cadets can access the resources of the officer formation staff; they are allocated an individual training officer and are also supported by their local placement supervising officer, who becomes a ministry coach for the cadet while they are on placement. Cadets also begin professional supervision, which is a necessary part of the Reflective Practice and Supervised Theological Field Education units they undertake (required following the Royal Commission) – so that is another element of professional support they are introduced to, which then continues into their commissioned officership. And what challenges do they commonly face? How does the college help them navigate these during their formation? There are all kinds of challenges cadets face. Some of the major ones relate to managing transition. There is a lot of change to be navigated in the cadet formation journey – often an interstate relocation, leaving friends and family, setting up a new home, becoming familiar with a new location, joining a new faith community on a short term basis, learning a new suite of organisational processes, studying at a tertiary level, getting their head around a range of expectations from different spheres. New cadets will typically set up a group chat where they share their challenges with each other. We have peer groups where life is shared, and there is structured learning along the way relating to navigating change and the range of transitions that come with officer life and life in general. Can you speak to the role cadet placements play in their development, and what these experiences involve? Our dispersed model of training functions in an apprentice-style mode. Cadets are on long placements (typically a year), and their week is a combination of study and ministry experience. They are learning all about the context of their placement – local culture and practice, and they are working with their Local Placement Officer to develop awareness and grow in both ministry practice and leadership skills. What is one piece of advice you would encourage this year’s group to hold close as they begin their journey? That there is great wisdom in cultivating a posture of openness. The process of formation can be disorienting at times, as there is so much ‘new’ coming your way – discovering new things about yourself, about the Bible, about God. Growth is a dynamic process. We have a saying in officer formation that “You can’t microwave maturity”. The journey of becoming – of growing up into Christ – takes a lifetime!

The theme of this year’s First Floor Program art exhibition is ‘Friendship’. BY DEAN SIMPSON The Salvation Army Foundery Family Centre in Port Kembla (NSW) is preparing to host its annual art exhibition at the end of this month.   The Cross Connection Community Arts Exhibition, now in its second year, is set to run from 23-31 January, with this year’s theme being ‘Friendship’.   “We are accepting entries up to Saturday 17 January,” said Marilyn Dunn, Coordinator of the First Floor Program that operates out of the Port Kembla complex.   “Works being submitted are to feature, include reference or evoke the theme of friendship.”   Marilyn said any form of creative expression is acceptable – painting and drawing, sculpture, photography, musical composition, written expression, fabric art, mosaics and more. Once again, a People’s Choice Award and a Spirit Award will be presented.   The Cross Connection exhibition continues the creative arts influence of the First Floor Program’s Jayne Wilson Exhibition, which was named after the program’s founder and was a yearly feature of Wollongong Corps for 10 years, before it concluded in 2024. Jayne Wilson, founder of The Salvation Army First Floor program in Wollongong. The Jesus-centred First Floor Program is a holistic, family-inclusive counselling and support service for those impacted by alcohol and drug addiction, mental health issues, trauma, grief and loss.   The exhibition was established in memory of Jayne Wilson, who died from cancer on Christmas Day 2013. She was a passionate artist who incorporated artistic practices into the First Floor Program. An ‘art for healing’ class still operates as part of the First Floor Program.   Entry forms for the Cross Connection Community Arts Exhibition can be obtained by emailing firstfloorprogram@salvationarmy.org.au   For more information, see the First Floor Program Facebook page here . Click through the slideshow below for photos of opening night on Thursday 22 January:

In Mandurah (WA), the local Salvos offers a welcoming and safe space where people can connect, access food relief, and receive other essential services. These supports help individuals who are facing financial hardship or experiencing homelessness. They also partner with Doorways to help people develop practical life skills. Community Outreach Ministry Leader Drew Castle says people are coming to Community Connect to belong, participate and build meaningful relationships.

Attending the anniversary meeting (from left) were  Lieut-Colonel Nick Coke, Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Jane Paone. General Lyndon Buckingham, Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, Commissioner Jane Paone and Lieut-Colonel Nick Coke represented The Salvation Army at a service of thanksgiving for the 80th anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the United Nations General Assembly held at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London, on 17 January 2026. The Buckinghams are The Salvation Army’s world leaders, Commissioner Paone is the Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations and Lieut-Colonel Coke is Secretary for Communications for the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. The anniversary date was significant, falling on the eve of the commencement of the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’. “The day epitomised the growing awareness of each participant’s own responsibility in the part they must play in rekindling the spirit of peace, hope and unity that sprang from the first UN General Assembly in 1946,” the General wrote on his Facebook  page. “The Salvation Army is proud to be a part of this, through our mission to improve the lives of others through the service of God and through the close working relationship between our own The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission  and the United Nations . A quiet deliberate act of service For context, in 1946 the UN General Assembly was the first international conference to be broadcast globally. In the war-torn city of London, the Methodist Superintendent Revd Dr W.E. Sangster and his congregation gave up their building to the representatives of the 51 UN member states making up the UN General Assembly, so that they could courageously work towards peace: it was a quiet, deliberate act of service. An act of remembrance The 80th anniversary brought together the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, alongside ministers, diplomats, civic leaders, faith leaders, students and members of the public. The singing of ’All My Hope on God is Founded’ opened the service, before the Reverend Tony Miles, Superintendent Minister of Methodist Central Hall, gave words of welcome and an introduction. Following a video presentation, prayers and a choir anthem, there was an act of remembrance for all those killed in the service of the UN. Archbishop of Canterbury designate, the Rt Reverend and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, read words of hope and comfort from Isaiah 61:1-9 , 11 : “The spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” The Salvation Army joined with leaders of church and state to honour the 80th anniversary of the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Reflection and hope The overarching theme was one of reflection but with hope for the future, which was embodied by a speech by Lord Hannay of Chiswick, Britain’s Permanent Representative to the UN between 1990 and 1995, who encouraged those gathered not to give way to despair. This was echoed in the readings from Romans 12:9-13 , 15-18 and the Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5:1-12 ), and in the sermon from recently retired Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who highlighted how, 80 years ago, seeds of a fresh global framework had been sown with a shared hope for enduring peace. He also placed special importance on the setting representing a place of sanctuary: “Here, in this Methodist sanctuary – a beacon of the gospel’s call to justice and mercy – they [those gathered] dared to envision something greater.” However, his sermon also brought us back to the present day, giving thanks to the UN defenders of peace but also questioning how we should overcome the challenges of war, climate and living in a digital age, as well as asking the question: “How do we rekindle the spirit that once found expression in this hall?” He emphasised the importance of the gospel as the place where the work of peace begins in the heart of every person, through showing mutual respect and hospitality to strangers, and how the UN can play a key role in fostering dialogue and offering humanitarian support. Sharing St Paul’s words from Romans 12:16 , “Do not claim to be wiser than you are,” (NRSV), he called us to action, stating that there is still a need for dialogue and renewal of international institutions to bring about lasting peace and compassion for the poorest. Today’s challenges and the younger generation Today, the UN comprises 193 member states and represents a huge diversity of faiths and cultures. The challenges faced are increasingly complex, but the desire for a world of security and freedom for the ordinary ‘man’ on the street has not changed since the inaugural speech of the then British Prime Minister Clement Attlee back in 1946. Following the service, an afternoon session of speakers and panel discussions focused on what the UN currently means to people and what it will look like in the future, in terms of how it needs to adapt and change to fight these challenges while being relevant to a younger generation. Speakers ranged from Annalena Baerbock, the current President of the UN General Assembly, through to the British physicist Professor Brian Cox, who spoke passionately about the need for the consideration of space exploration. There were also spotlights on different sectors of society, including refugees and UN peacekeepers. Hope for the future The day epitomised the growing awareness of each participant’s own responsibility in the part they must play in rekindling the spirit of peace, hope and unity that sprang from the first UN General Assembly in 1946. The Salvation Army is proud to be a part of this, through our mission to improve the lives of others through the service of God and through the close working relationship between our own International Justice Commission (ISJC) and the UN. The General’s own Global Call to Action echoes the statements of this day, of going back to our roots in order to move forward with clarity, unity and, above all, hope. This story first appeared on The Salvation Army’s international website .

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 (26 January – 1 February)   we pray for the Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand Territory (SMMT).   This territory has 189 officers (147 active, 42 retired); 6 Envoys; 18 cadets; 57 corps; 12 outposts; 2948 senior soldiers; 367 adherents; 281 junior soldiers; 853 employees.   Colonels Anne and Richard Borrett lead the SMMT. The work of the territory includes: ·  Community health programs ·  Schools and education ·  Community development ·  Modern slavery and human trafficking response.   Prayers for the territory: Praise : ·     We praise God for the dedication and enthusiasm of all those involved in our corps and centres throughout the four countries.   Prayer requests : ·     That as we embrace our new territorial theme of ‘On Earth as it is in Heaven’, that we will see God’s will being done in and through our ministry. ·     We pray that all the events and initiatives planned for 2026 will bring glory to God and more people into his kingdom.   Singapore Praise : ·     We give thanks for God’s continued faithfulness and provision across our territory – for the many lives being touched through our corps, centres, and community ministries.   Prayer requests : ·     Pray for the ongoing social and community ministries, especially those reaching the poor, the marginalised, and migrant communities, that they will continue to reflect God’s compassion and bring transformation.   Malaysia Region Praise : ·     Thank God for generous donors and new initiatives. We are deeply grateful for the generous donors who have made possible new initiatives under The Salvation Army Malaysia, including Project RISE (Refugee Integration School Effort), which provides education for refugee children; and Project HEAL, which offers after-school care and safe accommodation for underprivileged children. These projects are not just programs – they are lifelines for vulnerable communities. They represent hope, dignity and opportunity for those who might otherwise be forgotten. We thank God for stirring hearts to give and for opening doors to extend his love in practical, transformative ways.   Prayer requests : P ray for spiritual revival across corps and mission stations : Our deepest longing is for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit across every corps and mission station in the region. We pray for hearts to be rekindled with passion for Christ, for worship to be vibrant and authentic, and for lives to be surrendered fully to God’s will. Revival begins with prayer and humility, and we ask that every leader and member will seek God earnestly, turning away from complacency and embracing a life of holiness and mission. May this revival spark a movement that impacts not only our corps, but our communities and beyond. ·     Pray for unity among ministry leaders : In a world that often pulls us toward division and distraction, we pray for unity among ministry leaders. May every decision, every conversation, and every plan be guided by a Kingdom perspective – less of the world and more of Christ. Unity does not mean uniformity, but a shared commitment to God’s mission and a willingness to serve together in humility and love. Pray that leaders will encourage one another, resolve conflicts with grace, and keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.   Thailand Praise : ·     We praise God for the successful Soldier Spiritual Retreats held in Bangkok, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. ·     We thank God for the new soldiers that have recently been enrolled, enabling the new ministries in Thailand to expand.   Prayer requests : ·     We request your prayers for our Thailand ministry’s initiative to launch a social centre.   Myanmar Praise : ·     We praise God for the work carried out by all our corps and centres in Myanmar but in particular for the Women’s Ministries.  Often, despite very difficult and unsafe circumstances, they continue to reach out to families to give them material support but also spiritual blessings. ·     We thank God for his protection as the corps and centres continue to minister in his name. Prayer requests : ·     We pray that there will be stability in the country: for peaceful elections and a stable government ·     We pray that our Officers, Soldiers and friends will be given the continued energy, enthusiasm and the joy of the Lord as they serve in difficult circumstances. ·     We pray that our official social registration in Myanmar will be finalised soon so that the mission can develop and we can meet the needs of the country better.     To find out more about the SMMT Territory, click here . To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here . To download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here .