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Salvation Army Case Manager Rachel Rattus with her client, Rosealeigh. Image: Kirralee Nicolle BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE This Youth Homelessness Matters Day on 15 April, The Salvation Army in South Australia partnered with cafes and other service providers across Adelaide to raise awareness of the issue of housing instability for youth and young adults. Alongside the Toward Home Alliance and its partners, and the service providers from the Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance (ANWHA) , The Salvation Army has led a push to get information about youth homelessness into the hands of those who can make a difference. When Megan Elms (Program Manager - Youth Homelessness SA) and her team first had an idea to print informative sleeves for coffee cups, they imagined they would partner with just one cafe. “We’ve printed and distributed 2500 coffee sleeves,” she said. “And this was meant to be our little year!” The team designed and delivered thousands of sleeves to more than 10 cafes across Adelaide in time for Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Each sleeve featured a QR code that directed to the Home Time  campaign, a drive to unlock housing for the 40,000 children and young people in Australia with no fixed address. With the coffee sleeves, the team hopes to reduce stigma around what homelessness looks like in young people, and why it happens. They also specifically chose cafes near to council buildings, to ensure the cups reached the right hands. Several of the cafes who stocked the sleeves. Images: Supplied “We’re trying to say [that] kids leave home not because they’re rebels who don’t want to follow rules, [but] because it’s honestly unsafe for them to be at home, and they would rather sleep in a cemetery than be at home because it’s so unsafe,” Megan said. “That’s what we’re looking at. We’re not looking at kids just deciding that they don’t want to obey rules. That’s not it.” Megan Elms at Salisbury Community Hub, an initiative of the City of Salisbury. Image: Supplied She said during this past financial year, The Salvation Army alone had assisted 352 young people in the North East of Adelaide. In the North West, the ANWHA had seen 987 young people so far in the financial year. Megan said another aspect of youth homelessness that led to a lack of understanding was that much of it involved couch surfing rather than sleeping rough. “That’s not what it looks like in the youth space,” she said. “Yet, it’s one of the fastest growing forms of homelessness. I believe it can be solved if we get the right funding and the right models.” Rosealeigh’s story At the launch event held at Ingle Farm Corps on 15 April, lived experience advocate Rosealeigh shared from her story of experiencing homelessness prior to finding housing and support through The Salvation Army. Rosealeigh was 14 when she first experienced homelessness, an age she said was one at which a young person should be worrying about school, friends, hobbies and growing up, not where they were going to sleep, whether they were safe or how they were going to eat.     Rosealeigh spoke to staff and advocates from The Salvation Army at a coffee event at Ingle Farm Corps on 15 April. Image: Celeste Lewis “But that was my reality,” she said. “People in [the Department for Child Protection] knew what was happening for me, but I was told ‘you’re not young enough, you’re too independent’. “I want you to imagine how that feels: being a child and being told you’re on your own.” With the help of The Salvation Army, Rosealeigh said she was now in stable housing, and had re-enrolled in school. But she said the fear persisted that things could be taken away again. “If you work in services, please take the time to get to know young people,” she urged. “Be flexible [and] understand that stability must come first. And if you’ve experienced homelessness yourself, please know this: you are not alone, and your story matters.” If you or someone you know in Adelaide needs help, you can find it at the below:   - Homelessness Connect - Ph 1800 003 308 - Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance - Ph 1800 569 086 ( https://anwhahome.org.au/ ) - Lifeline - Ph 131 114 - Kids Helpline - Ph 1800 551 800 Of the 40,000 young people in Australia who have nowhere to live, about 9500 are between the ages of 15 to 17, while thousands more are even younger. This information and more can be found at the Home Time  website. Oasis Youth Services in Surry Hills, Sydney, also hosted events on Wednesday 15 April to mark Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Salvos Online will bring you a report on this next week.

National PLP Coordinator/Trainer Major Christine Pickens (right) taking a community member through the new PLP Discipleship Journey resource. BY LAUREN MARTIN   A new version of the highly regarded Positive Lifestyle Program (PLP) has been released by The Salvation Army’s Integrated Mission and Resourcing department.   The program has been used in Australia in various settings, including courts and prisons, schools and community engagement, for nearly 40 years.   The new PLP Discipleship Journey resource encourages participants to explore Christianity more deeply.   The nine-session resource goes through the same topics as the original Positive Lifestyle Program (with one added session): -              Self-awareness -              Anger -              Depression and loneliness -              Stress -              Conflict resolution (added) -              Grief and loss -              Assertiveness -              Self-esteem -              Future directions   The program can be done as a one-on-one journey with a community member or in group sessions. The key difference with the new resource, released earlier this year, is its focus on viewing the topics through a spiritual lens.   “The program’s core foundation maintains that thinking and feeling directly affects behaviour,” said Victorian chaplain Major Andrea Elkington. “Each PLP session explores an alternative way of thinking … and offers a more spiritual lens to promote a positive change.   “Participants engage with Scripture, are encouraged to listen to the Spirit and apply spiritual practices that reinforce the teaching on a range of important issues, including how to deal with the feelings of loneliness, depression, anger, loss and grief, as well as how we see ourselves.” Major Christine Pickens with the new PLP Discipleship Journey resource. Tim Frost, Ministry Team Leader at Mt Gambier Corps (SA), facilitates the Positive Lifestyle Program in prison.   He said he recently conducted the PLP Discipleship Journey with a man who had already completed the original Positive Lifestyle Program: “I asked him, ‘Is there a difference between the two?’ And his response was, ‘It’s as though God got a baseball bat and hit me around the head because it’s powerful and it changes my life.’”   Major Deidre Dearing, Homelessness Services Chaplain at The Beacon in Perth (WA), said she had started using the PLP Discipleship Journey with people who expressed a faith or an interest in Christianity.   “Within the discipleship journey [booklets] I have found that the Scripture references, and [me] encouraging them to read further than the verse just printed on the page, as well as the practical suggestions of how to pray, are really helpful,” she said.   The Positive Lifestyle Program is coordinated within the territorial Chaplaincy team, which oversees the delivery of the now four different versions of the program: the original Positive Lifestyle Program, Youth PLP, PLP for High Schools and now the PLP Discipleship Journey.   Existing facilitators can access the new PLP Discipleship Journey by visiting the PLP Toolkit at my.salvos.org.au .   A short training video outlining the changes to the booklets can be watched before ordering or downloading the new booklets. The new Positive Lifestyle Program resource. The team is hoping the PLP Discipleship Journey will be used by facilitators as a ‘what’s next’ after completing the original Positive Lifestyle Program with members who are keen to continue meeting; for creating faith pathways from mission expressions to corps; for building trusting relationships and enhancing holistic ministry; and for corps to use at Bible Study materials. “The Discipleship Journey is a really great addition to the PLP suite,” said Andrea.   “Often, as Christians, we think we need to be perfect or have it all together, and we suppress anything negative or what we are struggling with. The PLP Discipleship Journey provides a safe space to grow more into the people we were created to be, supported by trained PLP facilitators.”   Anyone interested in becoming a facilitator for the Positive Lifestyle Program can contact The Salvation Army’s PLP National Coordinator / Trainer, Major Christine Pickens, in the National Chaplaincy Support Unit: christine.pickens@salvationarmy.org.au

Colonel John Chamness shares his personal testimony of becoming a Christian at the age of 21. Reflecting on difficult seasons in his life, John says that he can see how God’s perfect timing and grace provided healing and hope even when he couldn’t see it at the time.

The new family with the team from Auburn Corps, led by Natalie Kistan (front, second from left). Image: Supplied BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE The Salvation Army’s New Beginnings Project has officially welcomed its first family to Australia, just under two years after the program’s launch. Launched in June 2024, the goal of the project was to partner with The Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) program. The CRISP program is an initiative of both the Australian Government and Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA). The New Beginnings Project encourages corps members to participate in the program under both the CRSA and Salvation Army banners. The family of three – a mother and her two sons – are being sponsored through Auburn Corps in Sydney’s inner west. While they originally came from Pakistan, the family has been residing in Thailand for the past eight years while they waited for a resettlement opportunity. Support offered through New Beginnings and CRISP typically includes welcoming the new household on arrival and assisting them to feel safe and settled, helping navigate everyday life in a new country, supporting access to income, healthcare, education and housing, enrolling children in schools and connecting adults with English classes, assisting with building social connections and supporting pathways towards employment or further study. TSA Refugee and People Seeking Asylum Lead Cynthia Gunawan said the mother is now enrolled in TAFE English classes, and the eldest son has begun school. The family is also registered for Centrelink and has set up a bank account. Perhaps most crucial of all, though, is that two weeks prior to the family’s arrival, the corps managed to secure them a small, but affordable apartment within walking distance of Auburn Corps. Cynthia said how the accommodation came about was a sign of God’s help in the process. She said the family was able to secure a six-month lease immediately. “The agent who was working with them for this particular place was really friendly, and actually advocated for [the family] to the owner,” Cynthia said. “That was a huge win, and we can see God is really helping us.” Auburn Corps Leader Natalie Kistan said the family were settling in really well, making friends and enjoying having spaces for the children to run around and experience freedom to walk to school or the playground without fear. She said learning English was now a key focus for the family. She said since Auburn Corps already had a large refugee and asylum seeker community, joining the project was a logical next step. “That’s where our heart is already, and it just made sense,” she said. “We want to help people, support people [and] we want to give people a chance to come to this amazing country and be part of that journey.” To find out more about the New Beginnings Project, contact intercultural@salvationarmy.org.au .

Image: Unsplash Leaders from The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission (ISJC) have attended and provided statements at the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The session, which began in Geneva on 23 February, concluded on 31 March. During the event, attendees sought to address some of the world’s most urgent human rights challenges. The Salvation Army took the opportunity to speak on critical issues affecting the most vulnerable. General André Cox (Retired) and Mr Markus Hofer delivered verbal statements - one on the right to adequate housing, and another speaking firmly against the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children. In his statement, Markus reminded delegates that, as humanity faced increasing threats to justice, they were called to speak up for the voiceless, the poor, the needy, and the widowed; and to be neighbours, peacemakers, and advocates for hope, even during the most challenging times.

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 (13-19 April),   we pray for the Zambia Territory.   Colonels Alfred and Pamela Banda lead the territory. The Zambia Territory has 307 officers (235 active, 72 retired); 23 cadets; 165 corps; 299 outposts; 31,430 senior soldiers; 1804 adherents; 13,282 junior soldiers; 235 employees.   The work of the region includes: Health services Schools and education Community development Modern slavery and human trafficking response   Praise We give thanks for the very good rainy season in recent months, contributing to a successful harvest and increased food security, as well as much needed relief from the national energy crisis of the past two years. We also give thanks for increasing financial stability for the territory.   Prayer We pray that the Territorial Officers’ Councils in June will be a time of spiritual renewal, empowering and equipping for mission. Pray for officer wellness and safety. Pray for the Territorial Youth Congress in July; that our young people will grow deeper in their relationship with the Lord and be inspired to courageously share the Gospel.We pray for wisdom, guidance, and financial resources as we continue to implement the Territorial Strategic Plan (2024-2028). Pray for candidate recruitment as we anticipate a new session of cadets in February 2027. Pray for our cadets as they are being commissioned in November. We pray for the spiritual growth of our soldiers and adherents, and that our corps will be beacons of light and hope in their communities, sharing the love of Jesus and meeting human need. Pray that evangelism efforts will result in new Senior and Junior Soldiers being enrolled throughout the Territory. Please pray for a peaceful government election this year and that God’s plan and purposes might be accomplished in this Christian nation.   To find out more about the Zambia Territory, click here . To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here .   To download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here .

Roderick and Kelly Brown from Launceston Salvos host a group of Year 9 students from Scotch Oakburn College at the community services expo. BY LAUREN MARTIN   A practical support ‘snack pack’ program for primary and high schools in Launceston, Tasmania, has led to a number of partnerships between schools and The Salvation Army, which are impacting students’ lives.   Auxiliary-Lieutenant Roderick Brown has been Launceston Corps Officer for the past 10 years. With 110,000 people in the greater Launceston area, Roderick and Community Engagement Lead Kelly Brown have the biggest ‘parish’ in the whole of Tasmania, population-wise.   However, the corps’ congregation is ageing, like so many, with the majority of attendees over 60. Alongside this is a small children’s program.   So, as a result of prayer, Rod and Kelly felt led to reach out to the city’s schools to offer practical support and make connections.   “Over the past two years, we have put together more than 3000 ‘snack packs’ across 17 primary and high schools. We are supporting more than 50 per cent of state government primary schools [in Launceston],” he said. “And that has led to deeper connections with a few schools.”   Kelly and a volunteer began assisting with some school breakfast programs. Members of the corps began to volunteer at several schools’ reading programs.   “Through those community relationships and what people are involved in, it is building a Salvo relational presence,” said Roderick.   Last year, Kelly was invited to run The Salvation Army’s Positive Lifestyle Program at a local high school, and she has been running Kids in the Kitchen once a year in a number of schools.   “After establishing the connection by offering basic material support, now we are getting invited to participate in things like Harmony Day, and we get invited to school welcome barbeques,” said Roderick.   Community service week connects students to corps One key connection that Launceston Corps has made with a local independent school has been in participating in a twice-annual community service week. The event, organised by Scotch Oakburn College, is now in its fifth year, and The Salvation Army Launceston has been involved from the start.   Students in Year 9 participate as part of the school’s curriculum, taking part in a Community Service Expo, where The Salvation Army and other organisations and services set up a stall with students visiting each. Students from Scotch Oakburn College take part in a ‘Price is Right’ game to identify the cost of groceries. “ One of our main activities [at the Expo] is to play a grocery ‘Price is Right’ game, to help students become more aware of the challenges of food security for those on limited incomes or living below the poverty line, shopping with a budget, and the difficulty in securing a range of items for a balanced diet with the cost of living pressures currently being experienced,” said Roderick. The game is both popular and practical.   Later in the week, groups of students from the college volunteer with Launceston Salvos (and other community organisations), helping with tasks such as preparing the community meal, assisting at Salvos Stores Launceston, and shopping for (and packing) emergency relief food hampers.   Jamie Breden, Head of Faith and Community at Scotch Oakburn College, said Year 9 is a crucial age group to participate in the community service week.   “ At the moment, young people are bombarded from pillar-to-post with social media,” he said. “They ‘doomscroll’ in the mornings and in the evenings. They need the opportunity to experience being grounded and present, and how they can make a difference.   “For some of them, it sparks thinking and passion. And creates awareness about ways they can get involved in their community.”   Jamie said partnering with The Salvation Army makes sense because of shared values and beliefs: “There is a clear connection between faith and action. This is how, as Christians, we can support people in our community and [teaching the students to] understand there are those that are less fortunate than ourselves.”   It also provides very real assistance to the organisations involved, with Scotch Oakburn College last year calculating their students volunteered for a total of 2075 hours, “which is worth nearly $48,000 of value to the community and to the organisations we supported,” said Jamie.   Student feedback from the week, held in March, has been encouraging:   “It felt good to be helping community.”   “I really enjoyed making the toasties for the kids in schools because some people aren’t as fortunate as others, and it felt good to give back to people who don’t have the opportunities we have.”   “I realised that when people think about community service, they might think it’s hard, but it’s actually really easy – you can do lots of little things that help.”   More than a dozen students from Scotch Oakburn College who have participated in the community service week over the years have remained connected to the corps through regular volunteering, as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award commitments. The school also supports the corps’ Christmas Cheer ministry, and students often fundraise for the Red Shield Appeal. Students from Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston Tasmania shopping for groceries for emergency relief hampers; packing the hampers; and taking part in Launceston Corps’ community lunch.   Schools engagement key to Salvos’ future Ashleigh Cowell, Tasmanian Schools Engagement Program Leader, said partnerships with schools such as Scotch Oakburn College are a “wonderful example of what a schools’ relationship can look like”.   “There is never an expectation on a school to support us [with fundraising]. But we can’t do what we do without support, and we believe that there is an important part of building a culture where we receive and we give. Whatever that might look like,” Ashleigh said. Ashleigh Cowell, Salvos Engagement Program Leader - Tasmania, gives a high five to a student. (Right) Ashleigh speaks with a group of students.    “A really huge thing that we are passionate about is helping students to realise what they can do to support with their own capacity. Young people don’t have heaps of money, and they don’t always have a lot of time, but we come alongside students to work out how they can support their local community.”   She said many people in the older generations know who The Salvation Army is because of brass band open-air meetings, or the Army’s work during wartime, but young people today don’t have those same associations.   “It’s super important that we find new ways to connect new generations to our mission. I believe fundamentally this stuff is important too, because we want to help raise generations of more compassionate, empathetic people.”   Ashleigh believes that planting seeds around authenticity, compassion and non-judgement with young people that The Salvation Army engages with through school partnerships opens doors to deeper conversations in the future.   “We are not shy about who we are. We are a Christian organisation, we are a faith-led movement, we never shy from that, it’s who we are.” Students from Scotch Oakburn College take part in Launceston Corps’ community lunch.

The installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Several representatives of The Salvation Army attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on 25 March 2026.   This marked a historic moment as Archbishop Mullally is the first woman to hold the Church of England’s highest office.   The Salvation Army cohort included Commissioner Jane Paone (Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations), Colonel Peter Forrest (Chief Secretary, United Kingdon and Ireland) and Majors Fiona Broom and Tracey Palmer (United Kingdom and Ireland).   Set within Canterbury Cathedral on the Feast of the Annunciation, the service drew around 2000 people and a global audience via the BBC livestream. Among those present were William (Prince of Wales), Catherine (Princess of Wales) and the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.   In the days before, Archbishop Mullally undertook an 87-mile pilgrimage from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral, meeting people, listening to stories and embodying the pastoral heart that has shaped her ministry. Formerly the youngest Chief Nursing Officer for England and the first female Bishop of London, her leadership has been defined by compassion, care and a steadfast commitment to Christ.   The installation itself balanced reverence with celebration. The formal mandate from King Charles III was read, affirming her appointment. Prayers, Scripture and songs were then shared in five languages, while the African Choir of Norfolk brought vibrant energy through music and movement. In a powerful symbolic moment, the Archbishop knocked at the cathedral door, entering as a guest and declaring: “I am Sarah, a servant of Jesus Christ. I come as one seeking the grace of God, to travel with you in his service together.” Major Fiona Broom (centre of photo) among clergy representing various denominations at the installation.  In her sermon, Archbishop Mullally reflected on Mary’s trust and faith in God amid uncertainty, urging today’s Church to echo her response: “Here I am” (Luke 1:38). She called on Christians and leaders alike to “seek the welfare of all people”, affirming: “We are here for everyone.” Her words were met with sustained applause as she left the cathedral.   A further sign of unity came as the Presidents of Churches Together in England signed an ecumenical covenant with Archbishop Mullally, committing to a shared witness.   Celebrations continued with receptions and a dinner hosted by the Nikaean Club at the University of Kent. The following day, ecumenical representatives met the Archbishop at the Dean’s residence, where Salvation Army leaders presented copies of  The Song Book of The Salvation Army  and  The Salvation Army Year Book 2026 .   This installation marked a joyful and significant moment for the global Church. As part of a worldwide Christian community, The Salvation Army shares in the call to trust God’s promises and serve others with hope in a fractured world.

Red Shield Defence Services Chief Commissioner Vaughan Agnew. Image: File BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE The Salvation Army is supporting a 300km march to celebrate mateship, engagement and the enduring spirit of the Anzacs. The Enduring Spirit of the Anzacs: March of the Unknown Veteran is an initiative of Eyes Front , a charity dedicated to supporting defence veterans and first responders, as well as other vulnerable community members, and Advocates Online , a veteran advocacy group. The event, which will begin at the Holsworthy Barracks in south-west Sydney on Wednesday 15 April and conclude on Friday 24 April at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, will feature the ‘Unknown Veteran’, who has invited others to join him as they can along the route. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the work of The Salvation Army Sallyman and Sallyma’am program. Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS) Chief Commissioner Vaughan Agnew said he will join the march at various points along the way, and former Sallyman Gerald Mitchell will be driving a Sallyman truck in front of the Unknown Veteran for the entire length of the march. He will provide refreshments to those who come out to participate in the event at each stop. Vaughan said it was important to fundraise and uphold the work of the Sallyman and Sallyma’am in this way, as it was crucial for servicemen and women to have someone outside the chain of command who was intentional about making space for social and emotional needs. He said even though what the Sallyman and Sallyma’am offered was simple – cordial, tea and coffee, biscuits and lollies – there was power in being present and available to everyone, no matter who they were, over such a long history of 127 years of The Salvation Army’s presence in the Defence Forces. Supporting The Salvation Army Red Shield Defence Services. “We rock up, be available, have a listening ear [and] be a safe, friendly space for soldiers to be able to connect and just vent if they need to,” he said. “I think it’s just that ability and the honour that we have to be able to walk into that space.” To find out more about the march, see the poster on the right for details or visit the Advocates Online page here . You are invited to pray for the success of the walk, walk with the unknown veteran or support the fundraising by clicking here . Salvation Army Anzac Day resources can be found on MySalvos here .

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, conversation, clothing, poverty, the Bible and the Sabbath, industrial relations and more.   “The gift of Conversation is, I am afraid, commonly much abused ... It is probable that the tongue of the godless has been a greater curse to mankind than the sword.” The heart of conversation BY GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH Salvation Army co-founder   (The article below is General William Booth’s original transcript.) My dear comrades, Conversation is the interchange of thought and feeling between individuals which is effected by means of Speech. Conversation, in one form or another, is, we can readily imagine, a privilege common to all living creatures. We know that the great Father in Heaven holds some sort of high intercourse with the holy beings by whom He is surrounded; and we have reason to believe that He does this through the medium of some celestial language. The Archangels and Angels, the Seraphim and Cherubim, and other of the inhabitants of Heaven, we are expressly informed, bow before His face, and cry, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.” The Bible contains the record of many Conversations that have taken place between God and His people on the earth in the past. Indeed, the Sacred Book is full 120 of messages from Jehovah to men, commencing with, “Thus saith the Lord”, and of prayers and thanksgivings addressed back to God. All such communication is of the nature of Conversation ... we can be quite sure that the Angels talk with each other. The sins and sorrows of our poor world, together with the unremitting and self-sacrificing efforts God is continually making for its Salvation, must be a theme of unceasing interest and a topic of untiring Conversation to all the inhabitants of the Celestial World. And who can doubt that in Hell the Devils talk over their infernal schemes for the destruction of souls, and recount to each other the progress they make in giving them effect? Ah, my God, there is no lack of interesting matter both for reflection and Conversation there! The various species of the brute creation also have, beyond question, some means of conveying the feelings they entertain towards each other, that answers to what we call Conversation. Many animals have the ability to think, if not reason. The habits of the ant, the bee, the dog, the horse, the eagle, and of many other creatures, furnish ample evidence of this. Animals are often capable of affection; they love their kindred and comrades, and sometimes show a remarkable devotion to man. Some animals seem even to possess an instinct which answers to conscience; that is, the ability to discern the difference between a right and wrong course of action.   If, then, animals have gifts of thought, of affection, and conscience, is it unreasonable to assume that they also possess some means of communicating their ideas and feelings to each other, however inferior the method of doing so may be to that with which man is endowed?   The ability for Conversation is developed in man very early. The babe commences by communicating with its mother, with its eyes, and by the touches of its little fingers. It speaks to her by smiles of gratitude, or by wails of distress. Then, one by one, the words of speech are learned, until there follows the larger vocabulary of language by which almost every thought, desire, or feeling possible to man can be expressed. Whether, then, Conversation is, or is not, possible to other beings, there can be no question that it is the common privilege of mankind.   Of course, while the language of the tongue is the ordinary medium for this intercourse, still, when that organ fails, some other method of communication will be found to take its place. For instance, with what remarkable rapidity and correctness can the deaf and dumb communicate with each other through the movements of their fingers!   In the public meetings I hold in Stockholm, in our large Temple there, I invariably find in the gallery, quite a number of this bereaved class, to whom one or two Officers possessed of the gift of hearing, are repeating, by signs, the thoughts to which I may be giving utterance.   The gift of Conversation is, I am afraid, commonly much abused. It is abused by all kinds of people. It is probable that the tongue of the godless has been a greater curse to mankind than the sword. So evil, and so productive of evil, among our members is it, that the Apostle affirms that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature: “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”   Apart from the more dreadful consequences brought about by godless Conversation, alluded to by the Apostle, what a dreadful amount of time and ability do we see wasted in the useless clatter of ordinary talk! You have only to listen, for an hour, to the Conversation in a railway compartment, at the table of a restaurant, or in the saloon of a steamer, or in the gatherings of ordinary society, to be utterly disgusted with the weakness, nay, the absolute inanity and silliness of the talk.   Men and women who have, apparently, had a decent education, and who seem to be intelligent and thoughtful in matters of business, or the management of their own homes, will sit for hours pouring forth an uninterrupted patter of words containing scarcely a grain of thought or sense, to say nothing about utility.   Salvationists are not faultless in this respect. There are Officers and Soldiers who self-sacrificingly labour in the Open-air, on the platform, in Visitation, and by every other conceivable means, to bless and save the souls of men, who will every day allow the chances of benefiting the people around them by their Conversation, to pass unimproved away. And worse, the same Officers and Soldiers will, at times, absolutely turn these opportunities into means of lowering the religious tone of those present, especially the young.   They will grieve the Holy Spirit by lightness and frivolity, by speaking evil of the absent, and generally discouraging those who may have been praying and believing for better things.   These evils often proceed:   1. From want of thought. There may be no evil intention on the part of those concerned, but the evil is done, nevertheless. The example of one Comrade affects another, and the whole company are carried away.   2. The wish to be agreeable is another cause. This, in itself, is not wrong. But after a few pleasant things have been said bearing upon health, passing events, and other matters, an effort should always be made to turn the Conversation in the direction of what is advantageous to those present.   3. The foolish ambition to be thought witty accounts for much of this evil. I must confess to being unable to see any particular advantage flowing out of this clownish notoriety. But there are some Salvationists, I am sorry to say, who will treasure up every piece of trivial nonsense they read, or hear, or imagine, in order to pour it out at the first gathering of their Comrades – often, I am ashamed to say, regardless of the presence of the inexperienced, or even of the ungodly.   4. Some of those to whom I am referring will be guilty of this trashy talk in order to appear more than ordinarily clever. They cannot let a topic pass without saying something about it, whether or not they have anything to say that is likely to be intelligent, instructive, or useful – in fact, whether they know anything upon the subject or not.   Such people should remember the remark of the ancient sage who, when asked why he did not take part in some particular Conversation, replied, “What was to the point I could not say, and what was not to the point I would not say.”    What advantages, then, may be gained by Conversation?   1. The profit and pleasure proceeding from useful Conversation can scarcely be overstated. To begin with, it provides valuable employment for time, which would otherwise be wasted. Only count up the number of hours spent in a single year, in company with kindred, friends, or strangers, which afford us the chance of profitable talk, and you will be surprised at the total. Take them at only two hours per day, and you have over 730 per year, which, divided by 10 (about the number of working hours of an average Salvationist), gives you over 70 days, or 10 weeks, in the year. Instead of wasting all this precious time in useless gossip, think how large a portion of it could be agreeably employed in doing good to the peoples around you by profitable talk.   2. It must be borne in mind that in Conversation we have opportunities for usefulness that we cannot find elsewhere. It seems to me that multitudes of people take more notice, and have a clearer understanding of things that are said to them over the table, than they do of what is addressed to them from the platform, although accompanied by all sorts of denunciations and promises; one reason for this probably being, that the things spoken of in a quiet personal talk will often be discussed in a more natural and understandable manner.   Moreover, the person to whom you are speaking, at such times, has the opportunity, which is not possessed by the individual in a public audience, for seeking information on aspects of a question that he does not exactly understand.   Then again, in Conversation, the people speak back to you, thus compelling them to think of what is being said. So, altogether, there is a remarkable facility in our lives for spreading information by this method, which does not exist in any other. Further, there will frequently be children sitting about, who will usually listen to a Conversation, and very often gather from it instruction that they would not be likely to gain so effectively by any other means.   Moreover, Salvationists are constantly meeting with people whose minds are full of all sorts of strange, crooked, and false notions about God, the Army, and religion generally. I seldom read an article referring to our Work, in the Press, but I find it full of blunders and misrepresentations; I rarely get into Conversation with a stranger, but I find him equally ignorant and misinformed concerning the principles upon which we carry it on, and the results that flow from it.   Now, what is to be done with these people? They will not come to our meetings, and see and hear for themselves, neither will they read our publications. It appears to me, therefore, that our greatest, almost our only, chance with them lies in the direction of Conversation.   Therefore, I advise my Comrades to talk to this class of individuals , and hear their difficulties about the Movement, about conversion, about faith, and about God, whenever they have the opportunity. Tell them your own experience, and God will help you to pour light into their minds which may be of the utmost value, making them fast friends of the Army, or better still, leading them to Salvation.   Conversation with Comrades and friends of similar aim and spirit will ever be found to combine pleasure with usefulness. What privilege or duty is there on earth, apart from communion with God, that is more enjoyable than intelligent and sympathetic Conversation between kindred spirits? Even the meaningless gossip about the most trivial things has a momentary charm. An artist's depiction of General William Booth preaching. How much more satisfying is a Conversation, by which you are conscious that you have talked about matters of higher worth and interest, in which you have imparted useful instruction, inspired holy feelings, or been edified and inspired in return! Such intercourse between the saints of earth is in harmony with the chiefest joys of Heaven. Looking back over my own life, how well I remember many of the delightful experiences of this character, which it has been my privilege to realise! Precious have those hours of communion been! How thoughts and language flowed on such occasions! How our hearts burned! What resolves for heroic, Christ-like deeds were formed! How swiftly the hours passed; and when the time for parting came, how reluctant was the conclusion of the glorious feast. Such seasons and opportunities are not withheld from me, even among the crowded calls and claims of today, and such seasons and opportunities will be my portion, I trust, till I change the precious communion of the good and noble here for blissful fellowship with the redeemed before the Throne. To make the most of the privilege of Conversation must, then, be an important duty, which every Salvationist ought, with all his heart, to endeavour to discharge. If every Officer and every Soldier will labour to make their Conversation profitable, what interesting and useful talks there will be when Comrades meet together; when they sit at the tables where they take their daily food; in their journeyings to and fro; at the family gatherings, whether of joy or sorrow-nay, in every place to which the Providence of God may send them! Let us enquire how this duty can be rightly discharged. Watchfulness will be necessary. There should be a set purpose to guard and guide the exercises of the tongue. Holy Christians, of ancient times, said much about the grace of ‘Recollectedness’. By this, they meant that state of mind, in which the soul is kept awake to the opportunity of the hour, and the best method of using it for the glory of God. Oh, how often, after the event, do we say to ourselves, “Why did I allow the Conversation to go off in that useless direction? Why did I not make an effort to turn it to better account?” Or “Why did I not offer that remark, which, I now can see, might have been so useful to A, B, or C?” Or “Why did I not propose a song, or offer to pray, or do something that I can now see might have proved a real blessing to those who were there! But, alas! This ‘presence of mind’ which is often spoken of as the grace of Recollectedness, as to who we are and what is most likely to be useful at the moment, is too frequently absent when most needed, and we lose the chance forever. Now, if we are to make our Conversations promote the honour of Christ, and the well-being of those around us, we must watch for opportunities and steadily use them to that end. Why not? A Salvationist goes to the Open-air meeting and on to the platform, with such an object. He says to himself, “I am not going to let this meeting drift into a mere pastime, a thing just for the amusement of the hour. No, I will make it benefit someone for this world and the next.” Why should there not be some such resolution, some similar purpose with respect to the innumerable opportunities of usefulness presented by Conversation? I do not want it to be supposed that I am advocating anything like bondage, or sanctimonious or melancholy talk. Oh, dear, no. Anything of that kind would at once defeat the object for which I am contending. The same rule applies to the casual meeting with Comrades, or indeed, with anyone, where there is time for a little talk. The first condition of profitable Conversation, especially in the family or in more intimate circles, is a sense of freedom. This necessitates a certain amount of what might be termed ‘small talk’ which, more or less, embraces the matters that have to do with the family life of the hour. This will include a free-and-easy chat about the health of the invalid, the last letters from relatives and friends far away, the sayings and doings of the children, their lessons, their toys and their play. Or again, there are the happenings at the meeting on Sunday, or the night before, the coming holidays, the weather, and a hundred other things which are of natural interest at the moment, and cannot be ignored. Indeed, if for no other reason, or advantage, they will serve the good purpose of training the junior members of the circle in the art of friendly and kindly Conversation, and do something towards correcting the loud, boorish style of talk which is now so common with many young people. When, however, all, or a portion, of these matters have been turned over, more important subjects can be mentioned, and dealt with as circumstances may dictate. Again, in Conversation, there should be nothing vulgar or impure. I leave the family out of consideration here, for, surely, such a thing would be impossible there; my reference being specially to Conversation where men only are present, although I am not sure that women do not occasionally err in this direction. We ought not to forget the readiness of the human heart to take fire! A very small spark may kindle, in the most innocent breast, a flame of lust that will never be extinguished: no, not in the fires of Hell. I could not allow myself to even imagine that a Salvationist would lend himself to the expressions and anecdotes that pass current so freely amongst many ungodly people. Nevertheless, Comrades may be betrayed into expressions that have double meanings, and that are not in keeping with the purity enjoined by our Lord, and in which The Salvation Army glories. Therefore, let them beware, and set a vigilant watch at ‘Ear-gate’ as well as a guard upon their lips! Nothing should be allowed in Conversation that is contrary to sound doctrine. If you have difficulties about the holy truths to which you stand pledged, seek for counsel from your Leaders, or leave them over until you come to know the will of God more perfectly, always bearing in mind how easy it is to sow doubt, or plant unbelief, in young or ignorant minds, which will go on growing, until rooted and grounded in their very nature, they produce poisonous fruits that fill the soul with error and ruin the whole life. You may be able to grapple with these infidel difficulties yourself, but the minds in which you sow the seed may not be strong enough to accomplish this mastery, and may, consequently, go down under them forever. To show off your knowledge of falsehood and other evils may be an amusement to you, but it may result in death eternal to those who bear you talk. Again, I say, Beware! Let there be no disloyalty in your Conversation. I sometimes think that every man has a Judas somewhere in his make-up, and oftenest of all that traitor is in his mouth. The shortcomings, misdoings, and imperfections of those whom the Providence of God has placed over men, has ever been a tempting topic for discussion. Fickle and weakly and evil minds are only too frequently led away by it, and a host of miseries and misfortunes follow. In the history of all organisations, there have been men, and, alas, some women also, who, whether they have remained within its borders or gone over to its foes, have delighted in destroying the confidence of their Comrades in the beneficence and rectitude of those placed in authority over them. I know that they will sometimes tell you that this destroying of the landmarks and undermining of faith has been done without any evil intention. But, alas! The evil consequences have followed, whether intended or no. Do not be one of those sneaking whisperers! Better pull your tongue out by the roots, than let it cause one of God’s little ones to stumble and be lost. Do not allow yourselves to make insinuations in the dark, which you would be ashamed to have repeated in the broad daylight. Scorn to make suggestions behind the backs of your Comrades calculated to destroy their influence and to cripple their power for usefulness, which you would be afraid to speak out before their faces. Remember the words of Jesus: “Whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear” – that is, whispered – “shall be proclaimed upon the housetops!” I need not say that this refers to all kinds of remarkable instances of this. He was a great man, full of stores of wisdom and experience of many kinds, having, perhaps, a greater knowledge of the world, of men and things, than anyone else in it, during the later years of his life. And yet, when we talked together, one afternoon, in his study at Harwarden, his manner made me feel so perfectly at home, he said all he had to say so gently, so enquiringly, that I found it a delight to talk to him, and a greater delight still to listen. What a contrast his manner afforded to some people’s way of dealing with Salvation; yes, and what a contrast it afforded to the manner with which some Salvationists deal with each other! Similar feelings will be experienced in Conversation with ordinary people. I frequently meet with those who make it evident that they care for nothing that I can say, however important it may be. In such cases, I usually close up, instinctively, and retire within myself, like the snail into his shell, concluding that either I have nothing to say that is thought worth listening to by my hearers, or that my manner of saying it lacks the power to interest. Others, however, even when they do not agree with all I say, will incline their ears and answer me by approving smiles, by questions of their own, by responses, and confirmatory expressions, so far as to make it difficult for me to stop speaking, or to tear myself away from their society. You will find it very much the same. Encourage others around you to talk. Often those who have something to say, which is most worthy of being said, will be the last to join in the Conversation; while those who are the least intelligent, will be the most pushful and make the most rattle. Ask for opinions from the silent ones. In fact, it will not be found to be a bad plan, occasionally, to get everyone to give their own view of the subject under discussion. Do not overlook the women who may be present. How coolly, unjustly, and thoughtlessly – I was going to say, how conceitedly – the men will often ignore the women in a Conversation, concerning a matter about which they have just as correct and, perhaps, even a more practical judgment than themselves! They may not exactly prohibit the women joining in the Conversation; on the contrary, they may say that they have the same opportunity of expressing their opinions as themselves; but the arbitrary manner in which they will absorb the time, and address their Conversation to each other, scarcely noticing the women, makes it plain enough that they do not consider that they can have anything to say to which it is worth their while to listen. In the family, I need not point out that the wife, especially if she be a mother also, ought always to have the opportunity, whether she uses it or not, of a fair share in whatever Conversation goes on; and on many questions it will not only be safe, but useful and also very interesting, to bring the children in. It will make them listen to what their elders say; and having to deliver themselves of their opinion before father and mother, will assist them in forming habits of thought and expression which will be useful to them in the future. NEXT WEEK: General William Booth’s thoughts on tough times. *This series has been compiled by Barry Gittins, The Salvation Army Australia Museum Specialist (Melbourne)

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? My current appointment is as a Corps Officer/Team Member at Greater Ballarat Salvos. Together with my wife, Marika, we mostly work alongside members and volunteers of the Ballarat Community Church site. The most rewarding and satisfying part of this role is being part of our community café that operates three days per week. Being able to share in the journey of so many people in our community is just such a huge privilege!   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? That is a very good question. Away from my appointment, I do a few things to relax and unwind. Belting out a few tunes on the piano, going for a drive to a new location, taking walks around the lake, and going out for a good coffee are all in the top five. However, when time permits, my all-time favourite thing to do to unwind is to get lost in nature. Nothing refreshes my soul more than being out and about in God’s creation!   3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? There are so many to choose from – it’s hard to pick just one! I’ve had many over the years that speak into the season that I was going through at the time. But, if I had to choose just one, though, it would have to be ‘Thou oh Lord’ made famous by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. I first came across this song when I was a member of the Sydney Staff Songsters, and I instantly fell in love with it. Based on Psalm 3, it’s a song that reminds me over and over that no matter what is going on around me, God is my strength, my shield and protector, and the one who lifts me up when life isn’t so easy.   4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be and what would you talk about? Apart from Jesus, there are two characters that I would love to sit down and have a coffee with – the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery. I’d love to hear from them their first-hand experience of encountering Jesus. What emotions were they going through? Were they afraid? At what point did they realise who Jesus was? How did they feel knowing that the one person who could justly punish or condemn them chose mercy and forgiveness instead?   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? After having an appointment previously as a Territorial Youth and Candidates Secretary, most people would expect me to say a resounding yes! However, my honest answer would have to be ... it depends. Primarily, it depends on the calling that you believe God has placed on your heart. I believe that God calls us all to ministry, no matter what our job title may be. If God has revealed to you that full-time spiritual ministry in the form of officership is the pathway He is calling you to, then absolutely yes, I would recommend officership to you. If, on the other hand, you think officership is a good job with lots of benefits and securities attached, then I would be cautious to recommend it to you until we explore some of the spiritual aspects together. Officers, just like everyone else, go through a season of great joy and happiness where life and ministry meet in synchronous harmony. There are also seasons that feel like chaos where life and ministry are completely mismatched. Through it all, the good and the not-so-good, dependence on God and a continual revelation of the calling God has placed on your heart (whatever that might be) are key to living our best life.   More information on Salvation Army officership can be found  here .

Salvation Army officers and other personnel who have suffered the recent loss of a loved one: We extend our heartfelt love and prayers to Colonel Mark Watts and Majors Gavin and Wendy Watts on the passing of their dearly loved father, Colin Watts, on Sunday 29 March 2026. Colin was reunited with his Lord just 19 days after the passing of his beloved wife, Rosemarie. Colin was also a devoted father to Ashley, a much loved Pa to Josh (and Brigitta) and Sarah (and Matt), a brother-in-law to Commissioner Earle Maxwell , and a cherished uncle to his nieces and nephews. ‌We give thanks for Colin’s life and the enduring legacy he leaves behind. We rejoice in the assurance that he is now free from pain and resting in the presence of his Maker. We pray that God’s peace, love, and comfort will surround the family during this time of deep loss.   ‌‌Our thoughts and prayers are with Major Steve Dorman and his family following the passing of his beloved father, Leslie Dorman, who passed away on Monday 30 March 2026. Leslie will be fondly remembered as a devoted father to Majors Steve and Petra Dorman, Lawrence Dorman and Terese Dorman, a cherished grandfather to five grandchildren, and a treasured great grandfather to six great grandchildren. His funeral service will be held on 10 April 2026.   ‌ Major Linda Willing is bereaved following the unexpected passing of her youngest brother, David Willing, in Cowra. David’s funeral service was held on Wednesday 8 April 2026. Please keep Linda and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this time of loss.   ‌‌We share with sadness that Divisional Envoy Christine Jameson is bereaved of her husband, Divisional Envoy Michael Jameson , who was Promoted to Glory on Saturday 21 February 2026, aged 94 years. We give thanks for his faithful life and service and continue to uphold Christine in our prayers. ‌We extend our love and deepest sympathies to Major Aaron Stobie , Captain Ronald Stobie , Captain Lauren Stobie , Captain Amy Stobie, and their families following the loss of their beloved Nana, Mrs Melva Stobie, on Tuesday 17 March 2026. Promoted to Glory in New Zealand at the age of 97, Melva was a devoted mother of 6 (including Mr Brett Stobie), grandmother to 12, and great‑grandmother to 17. Our prayers and care surround the Stobie family at this sad and significant time. Lieut-Colonel Lyn Edge  was bereaved of her father, Eric Edge, who was promoted to Glory on Thursday 26 February 2026. Our love and prayers surround Lyn and Terry and the whole family at this sad time. May they each know God’s deep comfort, strength, and peace in these tender days, and feel upheld by the care and love of their Salvation Army family as they grieve and remember a dearly loved father. ‌ ‌We extend our love and prayers to Colonel Mark Watts and Majors Gavin and Wendy Watts following the passing of their beloved mother, Rosemarie Watts, on 10 March 2026. Rosemarie was the dearly loved wife of Colin, mother of Ashley, Nana to Josh and Sarah, sister to Commissioner Earle Maxwell , and a cherished aunt to her nieces and nephews. We give thanks to God for Rosemarie’s life and the lasting impact she made. We rejoice in the assurance that she is now safely in the arms of Jesus, and we pray that the family will know God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, during this time of sorrow. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Commissioner Cheralynne Pethybridge, Major Greg Pack and Mrs Roslyn Eades at the recent loss of their mum, sister Colleen Pack who passed away on Wednesday 21 January 2026 (two months short of her 90th birthday). Colleen was a grandmother of Captain Matt Pethybridge , much loved wife of Gordon (deceased), Mother in Law of their spouses, Grandma to 13 grandchildren and Great Grandma to 11. She will be incredibly missed but her Godly influence remains in those who knew and loved her.  Our thoughts and sympathies are with Captain Fleur Hodge at the recent loss of her Dad, Peter Hodge, who passed away on Tuesday 3rd February. Our deepest love and prayers surround Fleur and her family at this very sad time. A service of Thanksgiving and Celebration of Peter’s life will be held at 10am on Saturday 21 February at Adelaide Congress Hall. Lieut-Colonel Cheryl Carpenter’s  father, Neville Lane, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday 24 December. Please uphold Cheryl and the family in prayer during this time.   Major Sue Smith  has suffered the bereavement of her mother Hazel Sanger. Hazel was a soldier of Port Macquarie Corps for many years. Please pray that Sue will keenly experience the presence of the Holy Spirit's comfort at this time.   ‌ ‌We extend our heartfelt love and prayers to Major Andrew Walton following the recent passing of his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Walton. Elizabeth was dearly loved as the wife of Ken, mother to Craig and Andrew, and grandmother to Anjali and Nishie. A service of thanksgiving for her life will be held at Ringwood Corps on Thursday 22 January. As we give thanks for Elizabeth’s life and the impact she had, we pray that the family will experience God’s peace that surpasses all understanding during this time of mixed emotions.