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Salvation Army officers who have concluded their service in 2026: Effective 2 April Please remember Captains Ashley and Rita Biermann in your thoughts and prayers as they concluded their service, effective 2 April 2026.  Effective 3 March Please remember Major Phil Staines  in your thoughts and prayers as he concluded his service, effective 3 March 2026 Effective 28 January Please remember Captain Marie Kovacs  in your thoughts and prayers as she concluded her service, effective 28 January 2026.  ‌ Effective 8 January Please remember Captain Gemma Keogh in your thoughts and prayers as she concluded her service, effective 8 January 2026. We give thanks to God for her faithful ministry and dedicated service. As Gemma steps into a new season, we pray that God’s peace will surround her, His wisdom will guide her, and that every new opportunity will bring joy, purpose, and deep fulfilment.

George Carpenter was The Salvation Army’s world leader from 1939-1946.  From the floor of a printing shop to guiding The Salvation Army through one of its most difficult periods of the 20th Century, General George Carpenter may well be one of the Army’s most unheralded world leaders. Salvos Online profiles the first Australian to become General of the Army*.   BY DAVID WOODBURY As the insanity of World War Two plunged the planet into a great abyss, The Salvation Army needed a steady hand on the tiller. That hand was the hand of Australian-born George Lyndon Carpenter.   The history of The Salvation Army is littered with stories of people who, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, have carved out a ministry for God and the Army from humble and insignificant beginnings. Perhaps none has been more remarkable than George Carpenter, the fifth General of The Salvation Army.   It may well be that George Carpenter is one of the unsung heroes of our movement. From the floor of a printing shop to lead The Salvation Army through one of its most difficult times; from a rebellious larrikin to a senior officer unfairly censured by General Bramwell Booth, George Carpenter’s character was refined and tried by the fire of adversity and conflict, yet he emerged as gold.   Born in the Hunter Valley region of NSW on 20 June 1872, the grandson of English immigrants from Bristol and son of Tristan and Hannah Carpenter, George’s initial urge was to become a teacher. However, as a young man, he took up a position as an apprentice compositor with the  Gloucester Gazette  (later to become the  Raymond Terrace Examiner ). His early experience at the  Raymond Terrace Examiner  and then on the  Blue Mountains Express  provided him with a good foundation for his life’s work.   One autumn Sunday, George was persuaded by his mother to attend a service led by Joseph Walker at the local Methodist chapel. Following a personal word from the preacher, George knelt at the communion rail and said “Yes” to God.   Shortly after being elected as the fifth General of The Salvation Army, George Carpenter was to tell a newspaper reporter of that experience: “My whole life was changed, and from that evening I decided to devote my life to spiritual matters. I joined the local Salvation Army and immediately took an active part in its work.”   By 1892, George had heard God’s call to be an officer in The Salvation Army and filled in the necessary forms. A letter of acceptance soon arrived from Commissioner Henry Howard, and George informed Army headquarters in Melbourne that he would arrive at the end of May to commence his training. George Carpenter as a young officer in Australia.   Life with purpose  On 27 May 1892, George Lyndon Carpenter arrived at The Salvation Army Training Home in Punt Rd, Richmond, Victoria, and with 35 other male cadets, commenced his training. Following six weeks of intensive training, Probationary Lieutenant Carpenter was appointed to special duties in the property department at Territorial Headquarters in Melbourne.   Among his many duties was the management of the officers’ hostel at Marchmont in Melbourne. The people skills learnt here were to stand him in good stead for the path God had chosen for him.   In 1896, with the rank of Ensign, George was appointed as assistant to the editor of  The War Cry . Here he was to meet Captain Minnie Rowell, and although he did not recognise it at the time, she would become his lifelong partner. On 21 June 1899, Commandant Herbert Booth conducted the wedding of Adjutant George Carpenter and Ensign Minnie Rowell in the City Temple in Bourke St, Melbourne. Various appointments followed, with a time as vice-principal at the new Federal Training Home in Melbourne. In 1911, following instructions from International Headquarters in London, Majors George and Minnie Carpenter sailed for London.   George Carpenter never forgot his humble beginnings and the transformation God had made in his life. Later in life, while territorial commander in Canada, he was to write to an old friend back in Australia: “We were none of us any better than we ought to have been in those days, and I am glad there came a time when I saw a higher and better way of life – a life with a purpose in it, and in which one can make a contribution to the moral and spiritual well-being of his day and generation.”   Difficult days  At International Headquarters, George was appointed to the editorial department and became news editor of  The War Cry . Various editorial appointments brought him into close contact with then-Commissioner Bramwell Booth and, following the death of the Army’s founder and first General, William Booth, on 20 August 1912, George and Minnie Carpenter were valuable to him and even more so to the Army.   The Carpenter family now numbered five, with son George Raymond and daughters Renie and Stella. These were to become difficult days for George and Minnie Carpenter. Despite an instruction that officers were not to attend the departure of the Carpenters from International Headquarters, a large contingent, including 14 commissioners, gathered at St Pancras Station in London to bid them farewell.  On 21 October 1921, they lost their daughter Renie. By the mid-1920s, there was growing unrest with General Bramwell Booth’s management of The Salvation Army and an anonymous pamphlet,  The Blast of the Trumpet , criticising his leadership came to his attention. He demanded to know from George Carpenter, who was the author of the document, to which George replied: “General, it’s not so much who wrote it, but is there any truth to it?”   Aspects of the pamphlet were discussed, and the General asked for George Carpenter’s views. It became clear that Carpenter’s assessment was unacceptable to the General. A great deal of correspondence ensued between the General and George Carpenter, with the result that, at the General’s bidding, the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Edward J Higgins, dispatched the Carpenters back to Australia, George to hold the position in the editorial department, which he had held some 20 years previously.   Lesser men than George Carpenter may well have had their spirits broken by such unjust treatment. On his last day at International Headquarters, during the daily midday prayer meeting, George responded to some of the consternation over his new appointment by saying: “I have long felt that a man’s opportunity is no bigger than the man.” They were words that were to prove not only the man’s character but also be prophetic for the days ahead. General George Carpenter addresses a crowd during an outdoor service on a visit to Australia. In January 1929, a High Council of The Salvation Army was called by the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Edward Higgins. General Bramwell Booth, who had been ill for some time, had been asked to retire, a request he’d refused. As a result, the High Council terminated the active service of General Booth, and Commissioner Higgins was elected the third General of The Salvation Army on 13 February 1929.   With the change in international leadership came changes in the appointments of George and Minnie Carpenter. On 15 April 1929, George Carpenter was appointed as Chief Secretary of the Australia Eastern Territory, a post he held until 1933 when he was promoted to commissioner and appointed to lead The Salvation Army in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.   Upon his arrival in South America, George Carpenter discovered the territory was in serious debt. George and Minnie Carpenter approached the dilemma as they had many times in their lives – on their knees to God in prayer. Soon afterwards, a phone call early one morning from an excited officer informed the commissioner of a considerable legacy that had been left to the Army. It was to become just one of the many financial contributions that came in response to their faithful prayers. Australians George and Minnie Carpenter guided The Salvation Army through the turbulent years of the Second World War as the international leaders of the movement. A cable from General Evangeline Booth, who had succeeded General Higgins as the international leader of The Salvation Army, arrived for the Carpenters in May 1937. It read: “DESIRE TO APPOINT YOU TO CANADA – WISH TO KNOW YOUR VIEW.” Commissioner Carpenter replied by cable: “SURPRISED HUMBLED DARE NOT REFUSE WILL GO IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD.”   While financial challenges in Canada differed from those in South America, George Carpenter soon discovered that the Great Depression, which had swept the world, had left a severe strain on resources there. However, he soon realised that what was needed was not so much financial resources as human resources.   As he moved about the country, he laid the claims of God through officership before young people. To his delight, a number responded, resulting in a training session in 1938 of 50 cadets. With the imminent retirement of General Evangeline Booth a High Council was convened in London in August 1939, to which George Carpenter was summoned.   Searching through the list of officers with whom he had cultivated friendships over the years, George Carpenter looked for a man of vision, courage and faith who would lead the Army in the critical days ahead. Although there was a strong feeling that he would be nominated, he neither sought it nor expected it, but would consider it should it occur.   Rock in the storm On 15 August 1939, with the storm clouds of war gathering over the world, the High Council of The Salvation Army met to elect a new leader. Commissioner Carpenter led from the first ballot and on 24 August 1939, was confirmed as the General-elect. Later, he was to say of that occasion: “Were I not clearly conscious of the Divine overruling in the deliberations of the recent High Council, I might well have hesitated to accept such a charge.” George Carpenter acknowledged that he anticipated the days ahead would be dark and difficult. “It is possible that we are on the edge of testings and trials in the world. We must be steadfast in courage and faith.”   For George Carpenter, his time as General coincided with what was perhaps the most traumatic and disturbing period the international Salvation Army has faced, as World War Two raged around his global organisation. His term began at a headquarters sandbagged against air attacks and ended with an Army whose officers and soldiers were decimated by almost six years of conflict.   To compound Carpenter’s leadership hardships, in May 1941, International Headquarters was completely destroyed by fire following an air raid, with the consequent disruption of every department of the Army. Many documents and records were either destroyed or so badly damaged that they became increasingly difficult to administer effectively.   With war restricting his ability to travel the world as Salvation Army leader, George Carpenter used his literary skills to not only reach but also encourage his people. His regular column, ‘From My Desk’, made its way into every  War Cry that could be accessed during those difficult years. The funeral procession for General George Carpenter leaves Sydney Congress Hall after he was promoted to glory on 9 April 1948 On 20 June 1945, General George Lyndon Carpenter was due to retire and vacate the office of General as required by Salvation Army regulation. However, wartime restrictions had made it impossible to assemble a High Council in time. Following correspondence between the Chief of the Staff and Salvation Army leaders around the world, it was decided to extend General Carpenter’s term in office until June 1946.   George and Minnie Carpenter retired to the Sydney suburb of Earlwood. Sadly, the General’s retirement was brief; he took ill and was promoted to glory on 9 April 1948, aged 75. A funeral service was held at Sydney Congress Hall before his body was interred at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.   His successor, General Albert Orsborn, was later to pay tribute to Carpenter’s life: “My outstanding impression of our fifth General was of translucent honesty and simplicity ... He was not of the world, but he lived in it, and always made shrewd appraisals of men and events.”   The  London Times , in its obituary, recalled: “He gave them what he promised on the day of his election – ‘an example in simplicity, an example in faith, an example in sacrifice, an example in courage’,” while the  Sydney Morning Herald paid its own tribute to his life and ministry: “General Carpenter has been described as one of the greatest and most saintly sons of Australia.” *The have been two Generals from Australia. General Eva Burrows was our other world leader, serving from 1986 to 1993.

Cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the Stawell Holistic Centre were (from left) Major Karen Castley (Area Officer, South West Victoria), Major Jacky Targett (Corps Officer of Greater Grampians Salvos), Vivienne Savage and Major Mal Davies (Victoria Divisional Commander). BY LERISSE SMITH A dynamic fusion of connection, creativity and calm is bringing transformative change to a close-knit community thanks to the Salvos’ innovative Stawell Holistic Centre.  Housed in a transformed homestyle ranch building, the retreat space prioritises mental, physical and spiritual health for its local Stawell township community. And local residents have embraced it with open arms. “I see the property as a place to grow, experience, indulge and learn,” reflects Major Jacky Targett, Corps Officer of Greater Grampians Salvos. “We believe this makes Cooper Street the place to heal the body, mind and spirit through the whole site.” The town buzzed with excitement during the centre’s official opening in February, packed with business tours, community fun, and a spiritual ceremony that left locals eager for what’s next. Jacky and Mal with the official centre opening plaque. The opening wasn’t just a single event – it became a three-day celebration. Friday kicked off with businesses exploring collaborations and discovering the centre’s spacious rooms, as Councillor Jenny Greenberger offered a warm greeting that signalled opportunity for local commercial prospects. Saturday became a community affair, a fun day, a chance for the community to come and see what is offered to the individual or groups – from babies to seniors – with Victorian Divisional Commander Major Mal Davies officially cutting the ribbon, declaring the building open and operational. The Spiritual Opening was held on Sunday, a day of praise and contribution. Major Karen Castley, Area Officer of South West Victoria, captivated the crowd with a message about community, drawing on the Biblical story of Adam and Eve hiding in the bushes while God wanted to call them out. “The Holistic Centre is the place,” says Jacky. “We want God to ‘call them’ (the community members) out of hiding and experience his presence! It is not about the building; it is about the whole property. For us, we wanted a space that was homely, not clinical, welcoming, not isolating, functional, not unrealistic. According to the people present (at the opening), we hit that target!” Versatility drives the centre.  Beyond spiritual services – home church gatherings and Aussie Praying Grandparents – it offers hands-on activities for everyone, from rolling up their sleeves to make preserves from on-site fruit, joining disability-friendly gardening, and allowing the community to use the space for their own purposes. Art classes are among the many attractions at the new centre, which provides a space for local community members to heal the body, mind, and spirit. A greenhouse and barbecue area are two of the many outdoor features of the new centre.   The vision for the centre started three and a half years ago with Majors Lynne and Greg Turnbull, who now oversee Campaspe Shire Salvos.  With no stationed officer in Stawell, the couple foresaw the sale of the old church and quarters to fund the new property. After three years of waiting, renovations to the site finally took place, adding disability toilets, ramps, and upgrades to make the space accessible to all. A major driver of the pioneering project was Ministry Assistant Sandra Pickens, who worked tirelessly to turn the dream into reality. “It was a really big dream for her to get this place up and going,” Jacky explains. “She had lots of ideas about what she wanted to do here.” Jacky shares the vision of the new Holistic Centre with the community who attended the official opening: “I see the property as a place to grow, experience, indulge and learn.” Today, the centre buzzes with activity and is open to the local community throughout the week. The centre adapts easily to any group or event, providing flexibility to the small township. “We can be here with whatever groups or whatever events that need to happen in the community,” Jacky says. “People have shown a huge amount of interest in the place. So, it actually doesn’t just function as a church. In fact, that’s probably the low end of the expectations of the place. We’re looking more at that holistic aspect – it’s about mental, physical and  spiritual health, such as asking ‘Have you eaten today?’ So, we will be providing what we can to the local community; we’ve just got to get things in place.” The centre’s team includes Jacky, her ministry assistant husband, Lynton Targett, her administration assistant, Teresa Fratin, and a multitude of volunteers and garden helpers. On Fridays, an art group meets in the space.  Inclusivity and creativity shape the centre’s philosophy – and to think outside the box. “Stawell is a fascinating place,” Jacky reflects. “It’s only a small community … We’ve actually had two other churches show interest in our Holistic Centre – one of them wants to use this building as a retreat space because it’s a big place inside, plus large grounds and gardens outside.” Hiring the Holistic Centre building as a spiritual retreat venue will meet a critical need in the community, as no other facility in town can accommodate such an event. Its indoor and outdoor spaces and gardens are part of its appeal. “They (the church) can come here as a spiritual retreat place. It’s absolutely gorgeous,” says Jacky. “There are all these places you can sit and stay outside and stay inside. We’ve got garden seats … so, they actually want to just do a spiritual retreat for their church here. And we were like, yes! That’s something different.” On the centre’s future agenda is the use of the centre for day activities for people with disabilities or the elderly, or other interested groups. Ideas include engaging in hands-on tasks such as jam and lemon butter or whatever’s available. Plans also include housing chickens, giving locals the chance to feed and tend them. Ultimately, the centre champions the mental, physical and spiritual health of its beloved community. “All of those things work together to bring peace, calmness,” says Jacky. “It’s also about a sense of adventure. We want a place where people can come and discover. So many people have just popped in to see what the building is and then remark, Oh my gosh, it’s so big! And then they think of how they can utilise it. So, we are excited about the future ahead – and just running with it.” The kitchen area, a hive of activity at the opening, will be at the heart of the centre’s daily operations.

Some of the territory’s leaders – Colonels John and Lani Chamness, Major Kim Haworth, Lieut-Colonel Brenda Young and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas. 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 (6-12 April), Salvationists across the world are praying for the vibrant and progressive Australia Territory. Over the past seven years since the merging of the Southern and Eastern Territories of The Salvation Army Australia to form the single Australia Territory, Salvationists across the nation have been working alongside one another to deliver the vision and mission of The Salvation Army to the communities who need it most.   Our territory, led by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, has 1473 officers (584 active, 889 retired); 55 Auxiliary-Captains; 11 envoys; 9 cadets; 9704 employees; 281 corps; 16 societies and outposts; 11,849 senior soldiers; 3763 adherents; 1457 junior soldiers.   In our territory, the Gospel is preached in Arabic, Cantonese, English, Farsi, Hindi, Kiswahili, Korean, Mandarin, Nuer, Persian, Telugu, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dialects. READ MORE: To view more posts from the Global Prayer series, click here In the Eastern Europe Territory (EET), Major Victoria Lalac led prayers for The Salvation Army in Australia at Territorial Headquarters in Chișinău, capital of Moldova.   Territorial leaders, headquarters officers, and cadets from Romania and Ukraine currently attending an intensive at THQ, watched a video about the Australia Territory and learned about the focus areas of the territory. Together they praised God for the work he is doing across the nation and prayed over current and future needs and plans.   Cliff and Simone Worthing, Salvation Army Australia employees, currently in Moldova on international deployment, joined the prayers.   Together, the nations of Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine make up the Eastern Europe Territory. This week, cadets, team leaders and training principals from Moldova (Eastern Europe Territory) gathered to pray for the Australia Territory. Salvos Magazine Editor Simone Worthing was there to capture the moment. Australia Territory praise points We give thanks to God for the ongoing work of Jesus and the movement of the Holy Spirit throughout Australia. Please continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest for the workers, for the harvest is surely plentiful ! We give thanks for the trust placed in The Salvation Army Australia by communities, government and generous supporters. Because of this favour, we are able to offer practical care and Jesus-centred hope to thousands each day. We praise God for transformed lives across our ministries ; physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. We thank God for all our officers , employees , soldiers and volunteers who serve faithfully across every expression of our holistic, integrated mission. Everything is for the Lord as we seek to be Jesus-Centred, Spirit-led and see Hope Revealed. This is everything from our aged care, emergency response, employment services, corps and community ministries and programs, Salvos Stores, mission support teams, frontline innovation and THQ and DHQ staff; who all work together to amplify the message and love of Jesus. We praise God for chaplains and ministry leaders who walk closely with Jesus and bring comfort, courage and hope. We thank God for the launch of 'The Way across the nation’ , helping our people focus on Prayer, Discipleship, Evangelism, Spiritual Warfare and All Salvos on Mission. Please pray that as the year progresses, God strengthens our soldiers and people of faith for all that lies ahead. We thank God for lives transformed through Employment Plus . We have seen people overcoming addiction , illness and hardship . We are grateful for practical chaplaincy support in times of crisis and tragedy , collaborative Christmas hamper outreaches , new businesses established, meaningful employment secured, and hope restored in remote communities . We thank God that the gospel is bearing fruit in intercultural communities across our nation. We give thanks for the incredible workforce of The Salvation Army Australia and for the many lives being transformed each day through compassionate mission . We rejoice that across The Salvation Army Australia Aged Care centres we are receiving reports of residents reconnecting with faith, some accepting Jesus for the first time, and worship gatherings flourishing. We thank God for five new chaplains to Aged Care commencing in 2026. We praise God for Christmas Reflections held in more than 400 Salvos Stores, where customers and volunteers are invited into local corps and encounter Jesus. We thank God for our mobilised Salvation Army workforce and ministry presence following the Bondi Beach mass shooting . Our staff served on the frontline, providing counselling, trauma informed responses, and ongoing support and connection to services in the months that followed. Salvationists around the country gathered in prayer and created spaces to mourn and remember. We praise God for our Emergency Services and Recovery teams serving communities faithfully during fire season and times of disaster. We rejoice in young people and children encountering Jesus and in faithful leaders and volunteers who journey alongside them; from national children and youth events to summer parties, divisional gatherings and locally led initiatives and home groups.   The Salvation Army has been engaging in collaboration alongside governments to improve environmental sustainability, partnering with the local community to deliver emergency relief and centring the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Australia Territory prayer requests Pray for wisdom, discernment and courage as The Salvation Army Australia Territory continues strategic change and restructuring. Ask for a deeper understanding of integrated, holistic mission that serves the whole person and the whole community. Pray for unity in Christ across our Territory, that our love for one another would be a powerful witness as Jesus-centred, Spirit-led and hope-revealed people. Pray for revival and spiritual renewal. Ask for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit across corps, centres and ministries throughout Australia. Pray for open hearts, ready to hear and obey God’s voice, and for a deep love of Scripture. Pray Luke 10:2 over Australia. Ask the Lord to raise up more officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers for the harvest field, especially young people who will respond with courage to God’s call. Pray for wisdom, humility and spiritual strength for current leaders, and for emerging leaders to be raised and nurtured. Commissioner Miriam Gluyas (centre) at last year’s Red Shield Appeal multicultural launch. To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here . To download the 2026 prayer schedule, click 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, chatting, clothing, poverty, the Bible and the Sabbath, industrial relations and more.   “Seven hours for a man, eight for a woman, and nine for a fool.” – General William Booth   Sleep and the Salvo BY GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH Salvation Army co-founder   (The article below is General William Booth’s original transcript.)   My dear comrades, it is said that every machine – nay, that everything made by human hands, or born of human ingenuity – must have rest for certain periods and at regular intervals, if it is to do its work well. At any rate, it is so with the human machine, and God, in His wisdom, has arranged that this rest should be found in our daily Sleep.   Without it, our strength quickly decays, reason leaves her throne, life languishes and presently expires. Sleep is a necessity. Every man should endeavour to secure that amount of ‘Nature’s sweet restorer’, that very Sleep, which his system requires.   Some people find it difficult to Sleep when the appointed hour comes round. Let me give them a little advice on the subject.   As you would not desire to take the spirit of nightmare with you to bed, do not indulge in a heavy supper. I have already said that some kind of refreshment, at the close of the day's work, may, now and then, be a necessity with Salvationists; but they should, if possible, avoid anything like a serious meal for an hour or two before the time to retire.   Keep a clear conscience. No man should go to his rest under condemnation. If any living soul has sinned against him, he should forgive; and if he has sinned against any living soul, he should, if it be possible, secure the forgiveness of that soul before he sleeps. Most important of all, he should have a clear witness that all his sins against God have been blotted out.   Paul’s experience is good for all times, and especially for your sleeping pillow; listen to him, “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.”   Commit yourself to the care of God and obtain the distinct assurance that He has you in His holy keeping, before settling yourself to slumber.   Sleep is one of His gifts. Touch the hem of His garment before you close your eyes.   Refuse to allow your thoughts to be occupied with any unpleasant experiences through which you may be passing at the time. Exercise your will, and so far as you can do so, banish them from your mind before you fall asleep, and refuse them admission during any of the wakeful hours that may follow.   Happy the man or the woman who can close their bedroom door against the perplexing and painful difficulties with which they may have been contending during working hours! “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”   Anyway, try to shut it out of your chamber during the night.   If engaged in close and confining forms of employment, such as sitting in an office, or in a workroom, take, if possible, some exercise that will more or less tire the whole body. A reasonable amount of exertion in the open air is a valuable health preserver to tens of thousands of our people.   I verily believe those of our Soldiers who are faithful to their Open-air duties, live longer, in consequence, than those who neglect them. Weariness is always the most friendly aid to Sleep.   Choose some agreeable and profitable subject on which to meditate as you lay yourself down. The run of your latest waking thoughts and feelings will be likely to colour your dreams and visions, if you have any; and, beyond question, Sleep will come more readily, and be more healthy and restful, if you enter upon it in a pleasant and peaceful state of mind.   While securing sufficient Sleep, beware of taking more than is required. Here, again, we must be careful not to err. Everyone is, I suppose, familiar with the old rule, “Seven hours for a man, eight for a woman, and nine for a fool.” It is a good rule.   For certain highly-strung nervous natures, who lavishly pour out their feelings and energies in their work, it will, no doubt, be difficult to take too much Sleep; but even here, the old adage applies, “Enough is as good as a feast.” Too long a period spent in bed is calculated to weaken rather than to strengthen the system.   But while Early Rising imparts life and energy to some natures, it weakens, if it does not actually incapacitate, others. Every man must deal conscientiously with himself on this question; while Salvationists must beware of getting too much Sleep, they must be equally careful to get sufficient. This applies especially to the more anxious among them. NEXT WEEK: General William Booth’s thoughts on conversation. *This series has been compiled by Barry Gittins, The Salvation Army Australia Museum Specialist (Melbourne)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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