From: Ahyeon Corps, Korea Territory Appointment: Corps Officer - Team Member, Belmore (NSW/ACT Division) Silver Star recipients : Jaesook Lee and Hyuknam Kwon When I first felt the sense of God’s calling to join The Salvation Army as an officer, a song suddenly popped into my head – a simple phrase that wouldn’t leave me: “No turning back.”   Since then, this phrase has become both my answer to God’s calling and my promise to him. And from that moment on, the Lord has led me on a journey full of surprises and grace.   Beginning my training as a cadet overseas in South Korea and later returning to Australia has been a story of God’s faithful leading. Through every transition, every challenge, and every new beginning, God has been kind and faithful.   Yet I must admit, there were teeny tiny moments when I did look back. I missed the things I had left behind to follow Jesus, including the comfort of familiar places and faces. There were times I asked myself, “Am I really suitable to carry God’s mission? Am I enough?”   I quietly despaired at my own shortcomings. Yet, even in those moments, I sensed his gentle whisper: “You are called.” God reminded me that it is His faithfulness, not mine, that will carry me through. I have learned to trust His plan, even when I cannot see the whole path ahead.   Our session name is Keepers of the Covenant . I loved that name from the first time I heard it. It has remained special and meaningful throughout my journey as I have learned that it is God who is the true ‘keeper of the covenant’.   He never lets go and continues to work faithfully even when I am weak, when I lack, or when I fail. He is the One who carries out his covenant – even through someone like me. Praise the Lord!   I also give thanks to God for surrounding me with faithful servants throughout my journey; people who have shown me what it means to serve God and his people with humility and love. Their steadfast faith and quiet obedience have deeply shaped my walk with Christ, and I am truly grateful for their encouragement, guidance and prayers.   Through their lives I have seen the heart of Jesus, the heart of a true servant who loves without expecting anything in return. Their faithfulness reminds me that ministry is not about success, but about simple obedience and love for God and His people. Now, again, as I prepare to step into ministry, I feel like I am standing on the shore of the ocean. The waves are moving, and the water looks deep. The sound of the waves is welcoming, but I cannot help feeling a little afraid. There is excitement, yes, but also a trembling in my heart, because I know that once again, God is calling me to go deeper.   And yet, even in that trembling, I feel assured, because I know who is going with me. The same God who called me, who guided me through every season, and who kept every promise will continue to lead me. He has been, and will always be, the faithful ‘keeper of the covenant’.   So, I take a step, a careful step, like a little child taking their first step. I may be shaky and unsteady, and I may grow tired quickly, but I know that the One who walks beside me is holding me tight with his gentle, kind and strong hand, just as he always has.   I stand here today to testify that God is faithful. He is the One who called me, who holds me, and the One I long to live for and serve with all my heart.   And so, once again, I say, “No turning back.”   Thanks be to God. All glory and honour to God my Saviour, the ‘True Keeper of the Covenant’.   Amen Bible verse:   “The eternal is the source of my strength and the shield that guards me. When I learn to rest and truly trust him, he sends his help. This is why my heart is singing! I open my mouth to praise him, and thankfulness rises as song. (Psalm 28:7 The Voice).

From: Coffs Harbour Corps (NSW) Appointment: Corps Officer/Team Member at Westside Salvos (Vic.) Silver Star recipients : Norma Porcia and Major Jeanette van Gaalen   I remember the day clear as glass. Nearly 10 years ago, a Parramatta Drug Court judge sent me to Adele House, a drug and alcohol rehab in Coffs Harbour. I was fresh out of prison with only the greens on my back, a black garbage bag of donated clothes, and a Virgin Airlines ticket north.   At Sydney airport, I stood among travellers with bright luggage and fixed destinations. And there I was, clutching a garbage bag tied in a knot. My life reduced to someone else’s clothes, 20 cents in my pocket and rope holding up pants two sizes too big.   That moment stripped me bare.   God’s light didn't shine through stained-glass windows that day – it shone through the faces of strangers with Samsonite bags and second glances.  I broke my phone in the airport bathroom and chose not to return to the old life. That was my first surrender. The garbage bag taught me something that would guide me long before I knew what it meant: travel light. I didn’t yet know where I was headed, only that freedom began with letting go. Today, I recognise that same lesson in ministry – to live unencumbered, ready to move when God leads.  Before that awakening, my story was addiction, prison and shame. I had burned every bridge that love once built, and I begged by the Parramatta River just to stay alive. Yet even there, grace found me.  At the rehab, two Salvation Army officers (now retired) – Majors Russell and June Grice – led a Bible study that carried light into my darkness. There I met Jesus in a way that left no doubt. He called me out of despair and into a new life. The same hands, stretched wide on the cross, reached into my mess and lifted me up. My ‘yes’ changed everything.  When Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people,” those words echoed through my story. He didn’t say, “Follow me, and I’ll use you immediately.” He said, “I will make you.” These past 10 years – especially the last two in officer formation – have been his making of me.  At Eva Burrows College, I learned to cross liminal spaces where fear meets faith, and God waits on the other side. Discipline, reflection, devotion and service became sacred rhythms. Crossing those thresholds cost me more than I was prepared to give up, but God gave back more than I ever dreamed.  Why The Salvation Army? It holds together the two truths that saved my life: holiness and social justice. I know what it is to be set free by sanctifying grace – and to need help when you have nothing left. The Army preaches salvation and serves suffering humanity.  To wear this uniform is to give back what was freely given. I’m now part of the Westside Melbourne Salvos Team, where theology meets the rough edges of life. I’ve served meals, prayed with strangers and sat beside those wrestling with grief, addiction and homelessness. Ministry, I’ve learned, is often more about presence than preaching – though I can do that too.  Our session is called Keepers of the Covenant. It sounds heroic, like something from an Indiana Jones film. But I’ve learned we don’t keep the covenant – Christ keeps it. On Calvary, he sealed the promise in his blood. My calling is not to be the main character but to witness his grace.  The words of Isaiah 43 still anchor me:  “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”   I was once lost, but now I am found – redeemed, called and sent.  Today I carry more than a garbage bag.  I carry the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Once I held the weight of shame in my hands.  Now I hold grace – and it is light.  To him be the glory.  Bible verse: “But as for you, man of God ... pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12 NRSVUE).

Dr Bruce Gale’s 176-page book is filled with images, documents and newspaper clippings, as well as fascinating eyewitness accounts.  BY LAUREN MARTIN   It has been revealed that The Salvation Army’s origins in Singapore and Malaysia date back at least 44 years before official Salvation Army records.   A new book, to be launched this weekend by The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History and author Dr Bruce Gale, details the work of The Salvation Army in Singapore, dating back to the work of “unsung pioneers” – Salvation Army soldiers and officers who visited Singapore and then Malaya in the late 1800s. The book launch takes place on Saturday 22 November. Dr Gale said he discovered the unreported history by chance while researching a story as a journalist for The Straits Times .   “ I had always thought it was a bit strange that the official Salvation Army history stated that the work in Singapore began only in 1935,” he said. “After all, it was widely known that The Salvation Army started operations in Japan, China and the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) in the closing decades of the 19th century. And Singapore was a major British port throughout that period.”   During his search through the archives for the unrelated story, Dr Gale decided to type in ‘Salvation Army’ and see what came up.   “I was surprised to discover that the newspaper had reported on the activities of various Salvation Army officers in Singapore as early as 1891!”   He said he was inspired by the work of passionate Salvationists and wanted to share their vision and heart for serving people in the love of Jesus with the Army across the globe.   “Those early pioneers from 1891 onwards were tough and dedicated,” Dr Gale said.   “Brigadier Herbert Lord was in New Zealand on holiday when the Japanese attacked in December 1941. He insisted on returning. His plane landed in Singapore during a Japanese air raid.   “After the war, Adjutant Bainbridge (himself suffering from malnutrition and weighing a mere 90 pounds after years of incarceration by the Japanese) directed the entire official emergency relief effort from a headquarters established by the British military in the Victoria Memorial Hall. In common with other Salvation Army officers, he worked 18 hours a day while propped up with pillows on a chair. The book is an excellent read for those who are interested in Salvation Army history and happenings. “There are numerous accounts of both bravery and dedication in the book, involving both officers and ordinary Salvation Army soldiers.” Dr Gale’s 176-page book, By Love, Serve One Another , The Salvation Army in Singapore and Malaya 1891-1960 , is filled with images, documents and newspaper clippings, as well as fascinating eyewitness accounts.   It will be launched this Saturday 22 November in a live event across three different time zones – 4pm in Singapore, 6pm in Brisbane and 9pm in New Zealand.   People who wish to attend can email AJSAHistory@gmail.com

Colonels John and Lani Chamness – The Salvation Army Australia’s new Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Leader Development – are still awaiting their visas to enter Australia, so in the meantime we sent them some questions! In this fun Q&A, John and Lani share a bit about themselves, what they’re most excited to experience in Australia and what they’ll miss from home. You’ll also hear their heart for ministry and what they’re looking forward to in this next chapter of service.

Each week throughout 2025, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army.   The focus territory/region shares prayer requests to help us pray with precision and power for one another.   This week ( 17-23 November ), we pray for the Middle East Region.   The countries that make up the Middle East Region are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and United Arab Emirates.   The Middle East Region has four officers (all active), nine corps, 400 senior soldiers, 43 junior soldiers and four employees.   The Salvation Army in the Middle East provides a home for expatriate Salvationists in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. We provide care and support to vulnerable and abused domestic workers, as well as those trafficked or tricked into the region.   Majors Douglas and Janet Newman lead the region.   The Newmans have shared some points to guide us as we pray:   For the region: ·  We pray that God would continue to empower our faithful witness as we seek to grow saints throughout the Middle East. We praise God for the continued support of our partners in mission and for all those whose gifts help sustain The Salvation Army’s ministry throughout Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.   ·  As regional conflicts flare, we pray for reconciliation and peace.   ·  We pray for the safety of the officers and soldiers who live and work in this area of the world and hold sacred our Christian calling to be peacemakers and reconcilers.   ·  We continue to pray for official recognition and registration of The Salvation Army within the countries of the Middle East, specifically for registration in the country of Bahrain where our regional headquarters is located.   ·  We pray for wisdom and perseverance in addressing the many challenges of operating within the context of the Middle East. And that our work would be sustainable and that we might leave a legacy of faith, hope, and love.   For Bahrain: Registration of The Salvation Army here in Bahrain slowly continues its course. Nothing happens quickly here but we are in regular contact with our government contact and we are assured that everything is progressing. We have two corps here in Bahrain, a Tamil Corps and an International Corps. The International Corps attendees are mainly from north Africa and are the victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, having paid money on the promise of work, which doesn’t eventuate when they arrive. This ministry is heartbreaking and when we obtain registration, we feel we will be able to significantly speak into this situation. Please pray: That the registration of The Salvation Army in Bahrain continues its course and will be processed soon, and that as a result, Bahrain can stand as a new country officially flying the Salvation Army flag as an independent Christian church.   We pray that compassion and understanding would prevail as authorities deal with those tricked and trafficked into both Bahrain and the Gulf region as a whole.   For Kuwait : Whilst Christian worship within the church compound that we are in can happen with relative freedom, outside those walls is a different story. The authorities are very strict around gatherings and any form of fellowship that might be considered a Christian activity. Any form of public celebration of Christian events such as Christmas or Easter is very quickly attended, resulting in severe consequences such as arrest, imprisonment and deportation.   Please pray: We pray that Christians would not be persecuted for expressing their faith and worship of Jesus. That peace, and the true meaning of tolerance would prevail as people of faith work and worship in the same country.   For Oman: God has been good to The Salvation Army in Oman which is led by passionate and capable soldiers. We thank God for raising up leaders to continue the mission in Oman. We praise God for the interdenominational support and cooperation that we experience within the church compounds in Oman. We are blessed to see an increase in children’s ministry and the number of children and youth in our corps who love to learn about Jesus and use their gifts and talents to praise him.   Please pray: We pray for the corporate leaders in Oman, that God would renew their strength as they serve faithfully in the name of Jesus. We also pray for more leaders and helpers, and as the demands of the ministry increase, the burdens of each leader would grow lighter by the miracle of God’s grace and provision.   We pray for the resources to continue to disciple and grow the youth, as there is a specific need for Christian education material in both Tamil and English.   For The United Arab Emirates:  Please pray: We thank God for the grace which allows us to continue our ministry in the UAE. We praise God that Salvationists from around the world can come to this country and benefit from the many opportunities available to them, and that there is a place for them to serve and worship here in The Salvation Army.   We pray for a worship space in Abu Dhabi, specifically for a chapel to be available, and for approval to be able to worship there soon. We pray that the congregation in Abu Dhabi would grow and flourish as a space to worship opens.   We pray that the ministry in the UAE would be sustainable, and for freedom and resources to continue serving the soldiers who are living and working here.   To find out more about the Middle East Region, click here . To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here .   To download the 2025 International Prayer Focus schedule, click here .

Major Tim Gittins (top right) running Exploring Spirituality online facilitator training. BY LAUREN MARTIN   An ‘Exploring Spirituality’ resource designed by The Salvation Army’s Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Services is strengthening connections between corps and recovery services.   While Salvation Army residential and non-residential AOD services no longer teach the ‘12-Step Model’, participants have always been invited to explore faith through chapel services and other small group offerings.   Now, a new resource called ‘Exploring Spirituality’ allows participants to engage in discussions and practices to deepen their understanding of their own spirituality.   The 12-week course is being run in partnership with local corps that have AOD Day Programs on-site, such as Canberra City Salvos and Eastern Beaches Salvos in Sydney.   National AOD Mission and Ministry Support Coordinator Major Tim Gittins said the resource isn’t new; it was created in 2019 after the merger of the two Australian territories by pulling together a range of resources used throughout the territory.   However, in 2021, he and Major Laura Gittins undertook a review and refresh of the materials, which was trialled in early 2024 and re-launched in July of that year.   “Most of the time it’s been delivered within residential services, usually by chaplains or ministry support coordinators,” he said. “We recognised we needed to wrestle with [the question], “How can we use this as a tool in non-residential recovery services to build those relationships into the local corps?”   NSW/ACT AOD Mission and Ministry Support Coordinator Captain Mitchell Stevens and the AOD Chaplain in Adelaide, Duan Kereru, became passionate about bridging the gap between corps and recovery services and worked with their local corps to introduce ‘Exploring Spirituality’ in partnership with corps leaders at the local corps settings, where day-program AOD services were already occurring.   “Exploring Spirituality is a faith pathway in trying to encourage people to explore that,” Mitchell said, stressing that the course is not about exploring Christianity, but being open and respectful of each participant’s spiritual journey.   “Every time we run the group, I say, ‘I am a Christian pastor, I don’t expect you to have the same beliefs as me, but if you want to explore that further, you are welcome to join our Recovery Church …’ More often than not, the people take us up on it.” READ MORE:   Jesus is still in our rehabs Exploring Spirituality at local corps Canberra City Salvos Corps Officer Captain Sally Stevens runs the ‘Exploring Spirituality’ group at her corps with participants of the AOD Day Program, which runs on-site.   She said it is a beautiful way to develop a relationship with the participants, and often they will naturally attend community days (where food and other assistance are available), become volunteers, and connect with Recovery Church.   “I emphasise that it’s not a Bible study or church – we talk about the difference between religion and spirituality. We also say, ‘We are all spiritual beings, so it’s important that we talk about spirituality because it benefits us in recovery.’ [We talk about] looking inwards to connect to something bigger than ourselves.”   Lieutenant Keven Williams at Eastern Beaches Salvos has nearly finished facilitating his first ‘Exploring Spirituality’ program. He said he jumped at the chance to introduce the course when asked by members of the AOD team who work on-site.   “It’s corps and social working together,” he said. “I see God opening opportunities for people … it’s a beautiful space for the staff in our social streams and the corps to align. It is a holistic alignment. Our Doorways worker has also come in as well. She sits in on the course, and she finds it refreshing and values that space.” Lieutenant Keven Williams says the Exploring Spirituality course is “corps and social working together”.  Keven hasn’t limited participation in the group to people within the AOD service space; he said he invited members of the different corps’ communities to attend, and some people who regularly attend corps’ meal services and food assistance days came along.   “I think it’s a gentle easing into spirituality, and it’s not prescriptive. We are not here to force spirituality on them; we’re here for them to experience what God has created, which is an experience in itself. It’s an organic situation – an invitation for them to go where they want to go in it.”   Faith Pathways At Canberra City Salvos, Sally said one of the things that has worked really well with the ‘Exploring Spirituality’ groups is introducing social outings.   “There has been this perception that because they are in a day program – coming for a day and going home – that they don’t need activities and things for connection [like they do with participants in residential recovery.] But a lot of these people have been through a lot and are just ‘surviving’. So, the invitation to do something playful and fun and invest in them has opened heaps of conversation and relationships.”   The corps used some of its Red Shield Appeal Initiative money to fund the activities and has taken participants in the Exploring Spirituality group bowling, to a local hedge-maze and bushwalking. Canberra City Salvos has introduced social outings as part of their delivery of The Salvation Army Exploring Spirituality course.   Thomas Richmond, a graduate of Canberra Recovery Services, participated in the Exploring Spirituality course twice, once whilst in a residential program and once as a day participant at Canberra City Salvos. He said he was wary at first, but relaxed once he realised it was a participant-guided discovery.   “They absolutely weren’t pushing anything on anybody,” he said, which was different from other times when people had spoken to him about religion, God or faith.   “Personally, I have tried [to do spiritual stuff], but I didn’t know how to go about it. It’s very confusing, and it’s a very personal thing. It was good to have that kind of guidance into exploring it yourself.”   Midway through the course, Thomas had a revelation that he was a ‘child of God’ and began asking more questions about Christianity at the Canberra City Salvos Recovery Church that he chose to attend during his time at Canberra Recovery Services. Canberra Recovery Services participant Thomas Richmond (left) and Captain Mitchell Stevens. Thomas says Exploring Spirituality helped connect him with Jesus.  “The way I see it now is the more ‘God conscious’ I am, or ‘spiritually conscious’ I am, the less ‘self-conscious’ I am. If I’m finding that I have days where I’m self-absorbed – which is easy to do in today’s world – I find that it’s usually the spiritual aspect of myself that is missing, and I have to become more God-conscious.”   Thomas has joined the worship band at Canberra City Salvos and recently attended The Salvation Army’s Arise Men’s Camp. He says he is stepping into his new role as a mentor and encourager to men just starting their recovery journey.   “Personally, I got out [of Men’s Camp] that I’ve got to lean into this opportunity that I have, to be a good role model … It feels different having people look up to you, it’s kind of nice.”   Going beyond AOD services Major Tim Gittins said there has been increased interest from different corps interested in working alongside AOD services to offer ‘Exploring Spirituality’ in their corps-based settings.   There is even a Salvation Army mission expression signed up to provide facilitator training for the course to introduce it outside an AOD setting to people in the community who are warm to spirituality but not open to attending Sunday worship.   “We would encourage corps, especially if they have a co-located AOD service, to explore it,” he said.   People interested in attending Exploring Spirituality facilitator-training should get in touch with him at tim.gittins@salvationarmy.org.au

After multiple nights of hundreds of Russian drones and dozens of missiles hitting civilian infrastructure, homes, schools, electricity sub-stations and residential areas – killing several people and injuring many – Major Iryna Shvab, divisional leader with Major Konstantyn Shvab, described herself as “feeling heartbroken”.   Despite the ongoing brutality of almost four years of full-scale war, “service in each corps is continuing” Iryna added.   She quoted John 16:33, “I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”   #salvationarmyinukraine #salvationarmy #Godisgood

Lieutenant Dave Bruford, Corps Officer at Devonport Corps, and local schoolteacher Prue McCulloch at one of the Smart Cookies program afternoons. BY LERISSE SMITH   Monday nights at Devonport Salvos are anything but ordinary. Kids build Lego towers with fierce determination, parents laugh over a cuppa and stickers are awarded like gold medals.   Welcome to Salvos Smart Cookies – an exciting new initiative transforming lives in the local Tasmanian community, with one clear modus operandi at its heart. “It’s about championing people,” says Lieutenant Dave Bruford, Corps Officer at Devonport Corps in Tasmania. “To champion them living their best life, to be the person they are meant to be, to be a flourishing person, a flourishing family, a flourishing community – and just championing them to be.” So, how did it all begin? With simple chats. The program grew out of conversations the corps mission team had with schools, the local community and chaplaincy about a year ago, in which one issue kept emerging in the community – low literacy and numeracy. Dave with Belinda Saunders, who is part of the corps Mission Team and local school chaplain. “God really placed on our hearts ... what can we do in this space?” Dave reflected. “And so obviously, we spent some time discerning what does that look like? And we had this picture of this beautiful idea, at the beginning of the year, of having this space that was open to families to come and to connect. To also have help with the children’s homework, engage in educational games, and have this safe space to connect. “The picture was that the families would come and thrive in a safe space and enjoy some community connection outside of school and whatever else was going on for them.” Another priority quickly emerged – healthy, tasty food. A nutritious and cost-effective meal to share with others, bringing people together to the table as a community. Then fate stepped in. Corps selected for Pathway of Hope pilot The corps was approached by Charmaine Stubbs, Salvation Army Community Services Child and Family Specialist, with news that it had been selected to pilot an exciting new initiative for two years called Pathway of Hope in Australia – a program already successful in the United States. Devonport is the first location in Australia to pilot the program. Primarily focused on early intervention, Pathway of Hope supports families with children from newborn to 12 years, including those who are pregnant. Its Doorways parenting team provides personalised casework alongside the corps, from setting goals to helping families who require additional support. “We know parenting is hard,” Dave emphasised. “Pathway of Hope caseworkers are very much targeted around intense support for goals around parenting. It’s about being the fence on the top of the cliff instead of the ambulance down the bottom. So, it’s really exciting that we got approached about this.  (Left) Young Harrison Ralph proudly displays his achievement stickers and attendance card. (Right) Dave and Smart Cookies attendee Maybelle Ralph play a game at the regular get-together each Monday night. “I genuinely believe Pathway of Hope, the model itself, actually has potential to shape the way we deliver service as The Salvation Army … very missional and very much about coming together, partnering together and championing our community members to flourish in a holistic way. The potential is huge.” Charmaine and a working group connected with the Pathway of Hope pilot provide support and expertise, with a focus on community needs analysis. In partnership with local churches, community agencies, learning centres, chaplains and teachers, Belinda Hendrickson, Salvos Research Analyst, identified that families and young parents need a safe, welcoming, and cost-free space where they can connect, relax, and seek support without fear of judgment – and confirmed the needs of the community for the corps. “So, from that day, we worked together, and we discovered, yes, there’s this need for this program, to create connection, to meet a need and to see transformation,” Dave remarked. “And so, we are seeing transformation, which is so exciting, and people from our community having ownership in this. Through all the process, our team worked on what it would look like.” The Smart Cookies program has been a big hit at Devonport Salvos. Then  came the spark – the launch of Salvos Smart Cookies alongside the Pathway of Hope initiative. Something a little fun and quirky. Each Smart Cookies session is a vibrant mix of fun, friendship, fellowship and learning. Children move between zones, including Lego, Play-Doh, sensory and colouring. Parents are encouraged to join, creating opportunities for meaningful connection. Casual chats with volunteers allow families to access additional support without pressure, fostering trust and safety. A crowd-pleaser is the playful sticker system. Children earn stickers – from kind cookie and creative cookie, to attendance, reading, homework, teamwork and more. Bonus stickers and prizes are awarded for reading five books and completing five weeks of homework. “We want to champion these kids to flourish in learning,” Dave said. “However, it is that they choose to learn and it’s not specific. Homework may be that they have got to practice their writing. Sometimes, it’s about building something. We’ve got different zones happening.” Parents are encouraged to engage with their kids and learn, with church volunteers offering a cuppa, chat and listening ear for life’s challenges, including issues with their children. It’s a space where families can thrive, belong and connect – and it has been a great success since launching a few months ago. Some of the Lego creations at the Smart Cookies program. Victories of all sorts are celebrated. One young girl, struggling with writing, beamed with pride as she traced her ABCs – a milestone that reflects the program’s ethos of encouragement and growth. “She was so proud,” Dave commented. “It was just beautiful that we were able to champion her.” Many other inspirational stories have followed. One child shared how she was brave because she went to the dentist, while another went to school for the entire day. One passionate Titanic lover has built the huge ship with LEGO. Salvos Smart Cookies also emphasises shared meals and practical learning. Families enjoy nutritious food together each week, with recipe cards to try at home. Food and drink is always available during the running of the Smart Cookies program. They have also created their own rules. And the first rule? To have fun! “I love the fact the first rule of agreement is to have fun,” remarked Dave. “We are in the really early stages, but seeing our corps folk to be able to connect with the kids and families. We’ve been able to support people to connect with our caseworkers where they get additional support, which is fantastic.” Sharing the love of Jesus All goals are approached holistically in a safe space, with sharing the love of Jesus in an authentic way at the top of the list, reflecting The Salvation Army’s Mission, Vision and Values . “We are able to live in an authentic relationship with them, whatever that looks like,” Dave emphasised. Dave says the collaboration with the community through the Salvos Smart Cookies program is leading to lives being transformed. “It’s doing life. The whole call of William Booth of soup, soap, salvation is meeting that first immediate need. As followers of Jesus, we do this as a response of non-judgmental love to say, ‘Hey, we are here. You are welcome to come and have a safe space to connect, to grow, to laugh, to cry, whatever it might be.’” With such positive feedback flooding in, the future looks bright. “The kids absolutely love it,” Dave said. “They are excited to get their stickers; they actually look forward to coming, which I think is a real testimony to it being a place where kids can come and connect. We are very much looking forward to how it is going to grow and shape to meet the needs of our community. “We have seen and heard from the community of its impact already … so, it’s a no-brainer! It's something that we want to invest in, and we want to see lives transformed. The collaboration with the community is where we are seeing transformation. That’s where we are seeing God at work – and it’s really exciting.”

Beenleigh soldier Bernie Knee gets comfortable as Beenleigh Corps Officer Heather McKeown prepares to lead a Sunday service at Beenleigh Salvos Store.   BY LAUREN MARTIN   Salvos Stores Beenleigh in Queensland has become a place of worship on Sundays, as a result of a growing partnership between the local corps and store.   Beenleigh Corps, south of Brisbane, was in need of a temporary home in October, while a new corps and community centre was developed.   Over the past few years, Corps Officer Major Heather McKeown had developed an enriching partnership with the Beenleigh Salvos Stores manager, staff and volunteers, so when the need arose, the Salvos Stores team welcomed Heather and her corps with open arms.   “With no hesitation or second thought, Heather and I agreed that Salvos Stores would be the temporary place of worship,” said Salvos Stores General Manager, Sean Burgess, who met Heather during a recent visit to the Beenleigh store, when Heather was running her weekly coffee-and-chat ministry in the store.   “After completing the necessary checks and balances around the use of the lease, keys and alarm codes, they were set to go!”   The first Sunday service took place in-store on Sunday 2 November, with Heather saying a good number of corps members enjoyed the new meeting space, which Salvos Stores staff and volunteers had set up for them on Saturday afternoon. Beenleigh Corps are worshipping at their local Salvos Stores on Sundays while waiting for a new corps and community centre to be finalised. “We are so happy with the way we have been welcomed. The volunteers on the Saturday moved some racks back to create a space, which was lovely. We made use of the chairs that we set up for the monthly store barbeque and had a place for morning tea as well.”   Heather has been the Beenleigh Corps Officer for the past eight years and during that time has developed strong partnerships with the local community and Salvos Stores Beenleigh.   She began ministry in the store with the coffee-and-chat mornings, which run every Thursday, and then in 2023 added a monthly Saturday barbeque, which she said is “aimed at people who need assistance or food or just those in the community who are lonely and who want to chat.” READ MORE: Beenleigh cuppa and a chat   Next year, when the corps re-opens in a new location right in Beenleigh town centre, the team will expand with an additional corps officer, Captain Anthony Hunt, and new facilities that will enable The Salvation Army to better serve the local community.   “We will be about 200m from the police station and about 300-400m from the railway and near the shops,” said Heather. “And just across the road [from the new premises] there is a local school, also a showground where a lot of people are camping, so a great opportunity for outreach to people there.”   The new centre will house a food pantry, shower and laundry facilities for people in need. It will offer Doorways emergency assistance and casework and also have an office for a Moneycare Financial Counsellor.  Heather said she is speaking with The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus about a possible co-location and partnership, as well as other organisations.   And, the centre will be just down the road from the Beenleigh Salvos Stores, where the beautiful partnership the corps and the store have developed will continue.   “We greatly value our relationship with the store and will continue to value and develop this relationship, as we look forward to the future,” Heather said.

In jazz, the music moves through every key – major and minor, dissonant and sweet – but it remains one piece, writes Captain Amanda Hart. This piece was first delivered as a sermon by Captain Amanda Hart, South Coast Gippsland Corps Officer, at the 2025 Inverloch Music Festival in Victoria. She has kindly shared it with us, and we’ve adapted it to encourage you to reflect on your own journey of life – in the major and minor keys. CAPTAIN AMANDA HART There’s something about jazz that feels alive . It doesn’t rush to tidy things up. It allows for space – space to breathe, space to listen, space for honesty.  Jazz can hold joy and sorrow in the same song, swinging between playfulness and lament in a way that feels deeply human. And in that way, jazz mirrors life.  Life moves through seasons – some bright, some heavy. Sometimes we know where we’re going; other times we’re improvising, hoping the next note makes sense. And sometimes, like in jazz, the beauty comes not from perfection but from honesty – from playing what’s real in the moment. This passage from Romans 8:31-39 speaks into that same reality. Paul isn’t writing from a place of comfort; he’s writing to people under pressure – people trying to follow Jesus while living through hardship and uncertainty. And to them – and to us – Paul says: there is something that holds steady. Something that does not let go, no matter the key you find yourself in. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.   When life feels bright – the major keys There are seasons that feel like they’re written in a major key  – days that are lighter, when laughter comes easily and joy feels close. In those moments, faith – if we have it – often feels simple. Gratitude comes naturally. We see beauty and think: This must be what life is for. It’s worth pausing in those seasons and noticing them. Giving thanks. Letting them remind us that good things are still real and beauty hasn’t left the world. But Paul’s words aren’t just for the good seasons. They’re for when the key changes – when life shifts into something harder to sing along to. When life turns - the minor keys We all know what that feels like: The phone call you didn’t expect. The diagnosis. The loss. The relationship that breaks down. Or maybe it’s just the slow ache of exhaustion, anxiety, or isolation – days that blur together, the quiet thought that whispers: Is this all there is? Paul doesn’t shy away from that reality. He names it – hardship, distress, danger. He acknowledges life can be brutal. And that honesty matters. Because what we need in those moments isn’t someone telling us to cheer up or have more faith. We need something solid. A love that meets us where we are – in the middle of the mess – and stays with us there.   A groove that holds it all together If you’ve ever listened closely to jazz, you’ll hear something subtle under the melody – a rhythm, a bassline, a groove that anchors everything even as the notes on top wander and change. That’s the picture I get when I read Paul’s words here . Life’s melody moves – sometimes smooth, sometimes jagged. The key changes. The tempo shifts. But underneath it all, there is something steady. A love that does not let go. This love doesn’t wait until we’re sorted out or strong enough or faithful enough. It doesn’t disappear when we’re angry, doubting, or at the end of ourselves. It stays. It goes with us into the hardest places and refuses to abandon us there. I know this because I’ve lived it. My story For a long time, I lived like I had to prove myself to God. I didn’t doubt He existed – I doubted He could love someone like me. I thought if I could just be good enough, maybe I’d finally earn His love. But living that way eventually left me in the deepest pits of depression. My self-esteem was almost non-existent. I was exhausted, ashamed, and convinced I’d failed at life and faith. And it was in that place – when I was still a mess, when I had nothing to give – that I encountered God’s love in a way I never had before. It wasn’t loud or flashy. It didn’t come because I’d finally cleaned myself up. It came right there in the pit. Quiet. Steady. Real. And I realised: this love wasn’t something I had to earn. It was already reaching out to me. It stayed when I couldn’t hold on. It refused to let go. That’s the kind of love Paul is talking about — a love that doesn’t wait until we’re sorted or strong or have all the answers. A love that meets us in the middle of our chaos and holds steady. Improvising our way forward One of the beautiful things about jazz is that it makes space for improvisation. There’s structure, yes – but there’s also freedom. Musicians respond to what’s happening in real time. They listen to each other. They trust the groove and find their way forward, one note at a time. Faith can look like that too. For some of us, faith isn’t neat or scripted. It doesn’t always follow a set pattern. Sometimes it’s improvised – halting, questioning, finding its way forward slowly. And that’s okay. If you’re unsure what you believe, if you’ve walked away from faith for a while, or if you’re simply reading this because you love jazz – that’s okay. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need perfect words or perfect belief. The point of the Romans passage isn’t that we climb our way to God, it’s that nothing can separate us from the love already reaching toward us. Love in every key Paul’s words reach a crescendo at the end: “ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord .” It’s as if Paul is saying: Name anything you can think of - the worst, the hardest, the most impossible - and God’s love is still bigger. In jazz, the music moves through every key – major and minor, dissonant and sweet – but it remains one piece. In the same way, Paul reminds us: our lives are held together by love, even when they move through very different keys. Why this matters This isn’t just theory. It matters. It matters to the person who’s grieving. It matters to the one celebrating. It matters to the person holding things together on the outside but falling apart on the inside. It matters to those wondering if they belong in church at all. Because if what Paul says is true – that nothing can separate us from God’s love – we can stop pretending. We can bring the real version of ourselves: the one that laughs, the one that doubts, the one that cries in the car on the way home – and trust we’re already loved. That changes things. It gives us courage. It means we can face the unknown, not because we have everything under control, but because we’re not alone in it. So, here’s the invitation today: Whatever key your life is in – major or minor, joyful or heavy, certain or questioning – may you know this: there is a love that holds steady beneath it all. You may not always feel it. You may not always believe it. But it’s there. It’s playing. It’s for you. You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to chase it. You don’t have to fix yourself first. You are already loved. And it doesn’t matter where you’re at today – whether your faith feels strong, fragile, or still searching. There is a love that will not let you go. A love that has a name: Jesus. This is the love Paul speaks of – a love so deep and unshakable that nothing  can separate us from it. Not our doubts. Not our failures. Not the hardest thing we’ve walked through or the darkest valley we’ve faced. So may you leave here today with this promise echoing in your heart: Nothing – no height, no depth, no present, no future – nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God that is yours in Christ Jesus. And may that love, steady in every key, lead you forward from here.

Damaris Frisk, International Emergency Services Director, talks to locals impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Salvation Army International Emergency Services teams are on the ground in the Caribbean island of Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa hit the region last month, leaving a trail of devastation and destruction across the region.   To date, 49 people have been confirmed dead in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, with other island nations, including the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, also facing the impacts of destructive winds, coastal flooding and power outages.   Amidst immense destruction and travel difficulties, Salvation Army teams in Jamaica continue to assess damage and gather resources to aid survivors on the island after Hurricane Melissa. Much-needed relief supplies for Hurricane Melissa relief left The Salvation Army’s Florida warehouse this week for Jamaica. United Parcel Service, a global shipping and logistics company, provided charitable shipping for humanitarian aid.   Teams have mobilised to distribute food boxes, snacks, and hygiene kits and will continue to assess needs as more information is acquired.   Food parcel preparation at the THQ warehouse packing centre is being monitored by Damaris Frick, International Emergency Services Director, and Colonel Edward Lyons, Chief Secretary, Caribbean Territory. The Salvation Army Eastern Jamaica Division has also partnered with the Rotary Club of Kingston and Khalsa Aid to visit several communities to distribute 400 food parcels, 400 cases of water, and 400 hygiene packs to those affected and displaced. The Salvation Army is taking decisive steps to reconnect communities in Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Communication has been one of the greatest challenges, with many areas completely cut off. Thanks to the support of Red Lightning, a humanitarian technology and logistics company, this is beginning to change. Mike Shiffler from Red Lightning arrived in Kingston, Jamaica, on 1 November, with several Starlink satellite units, along with batteries, solar panels, and generators. These resources are being deployed across affected communities to restore internet access and enable critical communication. The Salvation Army outposts will serve as hubs for these Starlink units, ensuring that entire communities can start communicating again. For the next few weeks, the use of these units will be free of charge. Corps will act as community communication hubs, offering scheduled times for residents to access free Wi-Fi. The first Starlink unit was installed in All Valley, St. Elizabeth, where The Salvation Army offices also distributed food parcels to 82 households. The Salvation Army has also delivered 450 food parcels to severely impacted areas in Westmoreland, St. James, and Hanover, Being able to communicate and access to food are critical needs for local residents who have been isolated since the storm. Once the Starlink units are no longer needed, they will be returned to Red Lightning for use in future disaster responses. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Red Lightning for their partnership and commitment to helping communities reconnect during this critical time. Click through the slideshow below for more photos:

The seven Salvationists ready for their Commissioning services (back row from left) Cadet Jonathan Abdulai, Cadet Soonsun Kwon, Cadet José Porcia (front row from left) Aux-Lieut David Dobbie, Aux-Lieut Belinda Dobbie, Aux-Lieut Amanda Pethybridge and Aux-Lieut Matthew Pethybridge. It’s that time of year on The Salvation Army calendar when our cadets and auxiliary-lieutenants prepare to be commissioned into full-time service as officers of the Australia Territory.   This year, seven Salvationists will be commissioned as part of the Keepers of the Covenant session across two Commissioning, Ordination and Sending Out services.   Commissioning is essentially the formal conclusion of officer training and the beginning of a new vocation as Salvation Army officers.   The first group of five will be commissioned on Sunday 23 November at Parramatta Corps in Sydney (2pm (AEDT). They are Cadets Jonathan Abdulai, Soonsun Kwon and José Porcia, and Auxiliary-Lieutenants Amanda and Matthew Pethybridge.   Throughout next week, Salvos Online will share their testimonies. The second Commissioning service will involve Auxiliary-Lieutenants Belinda and David Dobbie at Mackay Corps in Queensland on Sunday 7 December (12pm AEST). Leading up to that service, Salvos Online  will share the Dobbies’ testimonies.     Before the Commissioning service, however, the seven cadets and auxiliary-lieutenants will take part in Covenant Day on Saturday 22 November at Stanmore House in Sydney, where each cadet signs a sacred covenant, a solemn promise to love and serve God, proclaim the Gospel, and care for those in need.   “This covenant represents a deeply spiritual relationship with God and a lifelong commitment to ministry,” said Captain Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation and Senior Training Officer at Eva Burrows College in Melbourne.   “Over their formation journey, cadets have grown through three spheres: personal and spiritual, mission and ministry, and education and theological, preparing them for leadership and service.”   “Please join us in prayer as these people step confidently into this sacred calling.” Following the Commissioning services, the cadets will assume the rank of Lieutenant, and the auxiliary-lieutenants will assume the rank of Captain.   Both services will be livestreamed. The link to the Parramatta Commissioning service is here . The link to the Mackay service is here .   Keep following the Salvos Online website, Facebook and Instagram sites for information and stories on Commissioning, culminating in our reporter Lerisse Smith’s coverage of both services. For more information click here To find out more about Salvation Army officership, click here READ MORE: Call to prayer