volume 6 number 47 13 December 2025
salvosonline.org.au print post approved PP100001474
When wishes come true Celebrating divine love at Christmas
8 Christmas with the Salvos
10 An open invitation
12 Gifts of hope
TV show returns to Channel 7
God’s welcome is always waiting
The impacts of Christmas Assistance
“At Christmas, God whispered to humanity: I am with you. Not just in your success and glory, but in your uncertainty, your questions, your humanity.” – Nadia Bolz-Weber
13 December 2025
Editorial What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Vision Statement Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus. Mission Statement The Salvation Army is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus by: • Caring for people • Creating faith pathways • Building healthy communities • Working for justice The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders, past, present, and future. We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
Scan here to connect with The Salvation Army services
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Founders: William and Catherine Booth Salvation Army World Leaders: General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial Leader: Commissioner Miriam Gluyas Secretary for Communications and Editor-In-Chief: Colonel Rodney Walters Publications Manager: Cheryl Tinker Editor: Simone Worthing Graphic Designer: Ryan Harrison Cover Image: Photo by Natalie on Unsplash Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58 Press date: 21 November 2025 Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
Always welcome Every year, Christmas gives us a welcome glimpse of something extraordinary beyond our weary world with its seemingly relentless disasters, personal tragedies and global heartbreaks. But even as we may struggle with life’s circumstances, we can have a deep hope and assurance of change – present and eternal – as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that his life, death and resurrection mean for us, and for all humanity. The birth of Jesus changed the world profoundly and permanently. He came to restore brokenness, to make us whole, and to invite everyone into his family. This is definitely worth celebrating! As the features in this edition explore, the Christmas season does not take away our pain or end global tragedies. Christmas does, though, give us hope and helps us to see our struggles in context as we celebrate God’s love towards us, the daily strength he gives us and his promise of new life. If you need help this Christmas, would like to volunteer, or are searching for a place to belong on Christmas Day, check out salvationarmy.org.au/ Christmas Simone Worthing Editor 3
Feature
When wishes come true
Salvos Magazine
Celebrating divine love at Christmas by Jo-anne Brown
I remember my childhood Christmas wishlists, thinking about what I really wanted for Christmas and dreaming of what I might receive. For a couple of years, all I really wanted was a bike! I remember delicious food: mum’s potato salad, stone fruit, and Christmas pudding with silver coins, steamed in calico, as we steam in the Queensland summer! These were Christmas-only foods, and I still look forward to them each season. All the other food options are just accompaniment to these ‘stars’ of Christmas for me. Yet I know I can eat these foods any time I choose …
A shiny new bike was on the Christmas list for many years. 4
except these days I might not steam the pudding for six hours in a calico bag! I’ve been celebrating Christmas for six decades now – sometimes as a feast surrounded by family, sometimes in another country with just my husband and me, and always with some variety of food and loved ones. Sometimes Christmas has been joyous and satisfying; sometimes it’s been lonely or quiet; most times it has been something different from a normal day. A reminder that what we celebrate at Christmas is truly something out of the ordinary. And perhaps that’s the heart of it – somewhere deep inside us, maybe we’re all longing for a little bit of the extraordinary, a touch of ‘magic’ at Christmas, like we see in all the popular Hollywood movies. In those movies miracles occur, broken relationships get mended, strangers behave in surprisingly kind ways and life becomes a little more joyous and dazzling – all within two hours! And we long for that in our own ordinary lives. Love and hope At the heart of my childhood Christmas wishlists was the hope that getting what’s on my wishlist would transform my life – a bike, a book, a new game. And it is about hope. And the childlike belief that a new bike (or whatever it is) will change everything! If I were to look below the surface, I would have to admit that even more meaningful than receiving the gift I want, is the awareness that I am loved
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and someone knew and cared about what would make me happy. Other than the deeply longed-for bike, I no longer remember what was on my Christmas wishlists. What I do remember, across the years and various locations, is the people I have shared Christmas with – friends, family, extended family, strangers. I remember, and value, the connection with others – the sharing of a meal, laughter, and sometimes too, sadness of remembering those not with us. It seems to me now, that Christmas is about love and hope – knowing that we are loved and choosing to love others, and holding hope that when life is difficult, it can get better. This, most truly, is what Christmas is: the immense love of a God who wanted to be close and personal with humankind, and
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the hope Jesus gives us that there is more to life than we can possibly imagine. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus, the Son of God, was born to be present on earth, to be known and to show God’s love to all of us. We celebrate because that’s the message of hope we see in Jesus – hope borne out of love that can heal, restore and truly make the world a better place. It is the hope of God with us now, and the hope of us with God in eternity. Making it happen What do I really want for Christmas this year? Love and hope, more love and more hope. I want to know that I am loved and that I can love others. I want to rejoice in the hope that, as precious as this moment is, there is more to come. Yes, Christmas is a glimpse of something extraordinary that is within the reach of us all! 5
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Salvos Magazine
PHOTO BY S&B VONLANTHEN ON UNSPLASH
However, being loved and being hopefilled are not as easy as we would hope. Loneliness can crowd out the awareness of being loved; despair may crush any glimmer of hope we once saw; and we can feel isolated and anxious. I am no longer a child and no longer wait for someone else to fulfil my Christmas expectations for me (although I do still love to receive gifts from those who love me!). I can contribute to my own wishlist coming true – for myself and for those around me. I think of the prayer attributed to St Francis of Assisi: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love … where there is despair, let me sow hope … let me not so much seek to be loved as to love …” 6
Yes, if I want love and hope for Christmas, I can make that happen by how I live my life and how I see the world around me. Since Christmas is most truly the celebration of God’s immense love for us, and the hope that love gives us, then that’s the starting point. No matter what else is happening in my life or the world around me, God’s love is constant. When I receive and experience God’s love, I can allow that to flow out of me and allow it to touch other people. When I understand the original message of Christmas, that the birth of Jesus was ushering in a new era of peace and joy, of connection and belonging, I can live that hope and allow others to experience it too. I can choose to be loving and hope-filled.
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Need help this Christmas? Christmas should be a time of joy and hope, but unexpected circumstances or a crisis on top of current cost-ofliving pressures can make it even more stressful and challenging. If you need support with providing the essentials for you and/or your family or gifts for the kids, or are looking for some connection over Christmas, the Salvos can help. There’s no judgment, and no reason anyone should have to go hungry, be alone, or feel anxious about how to provide for themselves or their families. Food and gift support For information on food, hamper and gift assistance, please scan the QR code below and go to the ‘Need help’ tab. Financial assistance We understand that the rising cost of living is placing increasing financial stress upon individuals and families around Australia. The added pressures of the Christmas season to buy gifts or provide a nice meal for the family can seem completely out of reach. Instead of taking out a buy-nowpay later loan or maxing out another credit card, talk to one of our Moneycare financial counsellors to find out how we can support you this Christmas and into the new year. To make an appointment, please phone 1800 722 363. Share a Christmas meal with us Whether you are on your own this Christmas, are unable to prepare your own festive lunch or are experiencing homelessness, the Salvos welcome you to enjoy a Christmas meal with us at one of our centres. Look up the address and
contact details for your nearest Salvos branch under the ‘Need help’ tab at the QR code below. Celebrate with the Salvos Are you looking for community connection this Christmas? Or would you like to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas somewhere? We welcome you to attend a Salvation Army Christmas carols service, Christmas Day service or other event near you. For information, contact details and more, check out the ‘Find events’ tab at the QR code below. Scan here for information on all things Christmas and the Salvos. 7
News
Salvos Magazine
Christmas with the Salvos on Channel 7
Christmas with the Salvos, the annual Salvation Army television special, airs nationally on Channels 7 and 7Plus on 14 and 25 December. The show premiered on 6 December and is now available to stream on 7Plus.
means to them and whip up a festive dessert – fig and hazelnut panforte.
This year’s special celebrates the heart of Christmas through food, music and community. Renowned chef Gary Mehigan visits the St Kilda (Vic.) Salvos centre, The Well, where he prepares an affordable and delicious Christmas lunch for some of our incredible staff members (see recipe page 9) and volunteers.
Christmas with the Salvos supports the Salvos Christmas Appeal, raising funds to support Australians in need. •
Received over 350,000 gifts and toys for families who might otherwise have gone without.
The Well is a safe space that engages with people who are lonely and searching. There’s a community garden, a chapel, and The Well team, who are always available for a coffee, a chat or a warm meal.
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Assisted almost 57,000 people and provided nearly 147,000 sessions of care to people in need.
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Provided more than 89,000 bed nights for families needing accommodation during the festive season.
Meanwhile, celebrity chef Jason Roberts joins residents at a Salvos aged care centre in Sydney to chat about what Christmas
Tune in and celebrate a Christmas filled with hope, joy and community. And you can watch the show anytime on 7plus.
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Hosted by Channel 7’s Katie Brown, the special also features performances by the Salvos Choir, capturing the true spirit of giving, gratitude and togetherness.
Last Christmas, the Salvos:
News
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Festive foods
Chef Gary Mehigan recently prepared the delicious and affordable festive menu below at The Well – a Salvos centre in St Kilda (Vic.). Christmas menu Roast chicken with dukka spices Roasted potatoes with garlic and red onions Crisp iceberg salad with feta, cucumber, avocado and walnuts Quick Christmas trifle Roast chicken with dukka spices Ingredients 1 chicken (1.4kg); 1 lemon, quartered; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; 2 cloves garlic, peeled; table salt; 1 tbsp dukka spices; 3 tbsp olive oil Method Preheat the oven to 200°C. Stuff the chicken with the lemon, thyme and 1 clove garlic. Truss the chicken with kitchen string to hold its form. Place into a roasting tray. Season with salt and half the dukka spices. Drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 75 minutes, basting regularly with the fats in the roasting pan. Remove from oven, baste and sprinkle with remaining dukka spices. Remove chicken from pan and leave for 10 minutes. Divide chicken into 4 portions and serve. Note: The chicken is cooked when you pierce the thigh with a roasting fork at the thickest part and the juices run clear.
Chef Gary Mehigan preparing a Christmas meal for a Salvos centre is part of the Christmas with the Salvos TV special.
Scan here to donate to The Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. 9
Faith Talk
Salvos Magazine
An open invitation God’s welcome is always waiting by Rosy Keane
Do you remember having a friend when you were younger, as a child or in your high school years, where there was an open invitation to their house?
by the joke that “being an adult is saying ‘we should definitely catch up’ every time you run into somebody, over and over, until the day you die.”
Open door, open cupboard, open couch. Wherever you were – you knew you could walk in the back door, open up the fridge, have a snack, and if they came home, they wouldn’t be offended (or call the police!). In fact, it was an invitation into family. They welcomed you.
This is the opposite of an open invitation – a never-fulfilled promise of connection and hospitality.
If you were lucky enough to have experienced that, you will know there is something precious about an open invitation. The opposite end of this is summed up
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Then again, many of us may not feel we have the resources, energy, or even mental space to offer open invitations, to extend them, or to have one in return. Maybe our idea of invitation is tainted by the memory of a time when we invited people, and they never showed up! Or, we showed up to an invitation and found it wasn’t so ‘open’ after all, and we felt left out or let down.
Faith Talk Christmas miracle As Christmas comes around again, we turn our minds to the idea of hosting family. For many of us, it might also mean attending Christmas services as the only ‘church’ experience of the year. But we believe that Jesus Christ’s invitation is truly an open one. Whether you’ve been to church never, once, or a million times, Jesus extends his arms wide and invites us into the wonder of a human-God miracle: his birth, and the God-human miracle of his death and resurrection offered for our sake. As the streets become festive with tinsel, trees, gold, red and green, I don’t invite you to ‘remember the reason for the season’. I write to say … the invitation is open. Jesus came so that every person on earth, each of us made in his image, would know him, and know that we are always welcome in his house.
13 December 2025
His kingdom is not of this world, and suffering, tears, heartache and despair (all of which may be part of the Christmas season too, though not often talked about) can find a place in his loving arms and comfort in his open embrace. Is the open invitation to the table of Jesus for you? It is an invitation into family. God welcomes you. Here is a simple prayer for those who would like it: “Jesus, I would like to have an experience of your life. Please show me what you have done for me. I want to see you in my life. I am prepared to recognise you. Amen.” Aux-Lieutenant Rosy Keane is Secretary for Spiritual Life Development for The Salvation Army Australia
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My Story
Salvos Magazine
Gifts of hope and independence
The lasting impacts of Christmas Assistance by Naomi Singlehurst
‘A hand up, not a handout’ may be a familiar phrase, but at Northside Salvation Army in Geelong, Victoria, it is an approach that changes lives. Last Christmas, supported by local churches and community groups, the Northside Salvos distributed more than 400 hampers (plus another 100 to a local Salvos homelessness service), more than 400 toys and countless vouchers, while also hosting a community Christmas lunch. “Christmas is just one day out of 365, and people don’t just experience a crisis at Christmas,” says Joy Cassidy, corps officer (pastor) at Northside Salvos Geelong. “They have a crisis that affects Christmas.” Several years ago, Joy and her team redefined how they provided Christmas support for people in the 15 different language groups they connect with. Specific needs Rather than simply distributing the same ratio of toys, food and vouchers to each person or family for Christmas, they began conducting detailed interviews to assess individual needs and capabilities, building on strengths and connecting people to ongoing support and referrals to services including The Salvation Army’s Moneycare free financial 12
counselling and a range of community organisations that work as an effective network. “If we are creating a culture of ‘I want’ where people come only expecting to receive, then we haven’t done our job properly,” Joy says. “Instead, we ask, ‘What can you manage?’ and ‘Where do you need support?’. This way, we are equipping people to move forward with confidence and independence.” Joy says it takes time and resources to interview every person who registers for Christmas Assistance, but as well as determining need, it also serves to begin to address underlying issues. “We’ve become really intentional in asking the right questions – even simple ones, like ‘How many adults live in your house?’. We found that many households have more than just the parents as adults, yet the parents are covering all expenses while their adult children contribute nothing. In these cases, there is often capacity to manage as a combined household, but financial responsibility needs to be addressed.” Stories of impact The Northside team sees positive outcomes often. Lena* was one of hundreds who sought help last Christmas.
My Story
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Joy (right), loves the difference Christmas Assistance makes to the community. The Christmas Assistance team. From left, Jacqueline, Joy and Joanne. Community members choose items they need for Christmas and beyond.
In her 70s, living alone and struggling with English, she had always managed on her pension – until the cost-of-living crisis made it impossible to make ends meet. The team explained that her pension card entitled her to discounts on utilities, transport and medications, and helped her immediately apply for some of those discounts. With heartfelt thanks, she said that if she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have ever needed help. Another young couple arrived for Christmas Assistance with a $600 debt they couldn’t clear. They were immediately referred to a Salvation Army Moneycare financial counsellor, who, because of the couple’s particular circumstances, was able to have the debt waived on the spot.
Passing on hope Joy says passing on hope to others is her passion. “There are so many people who feel that life is hopeless, and therefore, that they are hopeless. But God says, ‘The situation might look hopeless, but you are not hopeless. You have the capacity to get through this.’ “For me and our team, there are so many opportunities to encourage people to choose hope, to choose life, to choose light – to see good in the world. And if every person who walks in our door leaves feeling [genuinely] seen, heard and valued, then we have done our job.” *Name changed for privacy. 13
Taste of Life
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Chocolate Fondue
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Salvos Magazine
Quiz
1. What does orangutan mean? 2. On which islands can orangutans be found? 3. Where do lemurs come from? Ingredients 250g chocolate (chips or chopped), 1/3 cup cream, fresh fruits and dipping foods of your choice (marshmallows, pretzels, wafers, orange wedges, kiwi slices, apple slices, strawberries, figs, banana pieces, pineapple pieces, dried fruit) Method Place chocolate and cream into microwave bowl. Heat for 1 minute on medium. Stir and repeat. Heat for 20 seconds. Stir, and repeat until just melted. Serve in individual small bowls with plates of fresh fruit and your favourite dipping foods.
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5. Who was the first gorilla to learn sign language? 6. Why was Snowflake the gorilla the most famous resident of the Barcelona Zoo?
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Tum-Tum
Believe in Good: Tips
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Philippians chapter 2, verse 3 New international version 14
4. Who are the loudest monkeys, found in Central and South America?
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
Take Five
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Who are we?
Sons of a clergyman, we were mischievous, and one of us was once expelled from school.
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Puzzle #1
Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
Neither of us finished school.
9
One day, our father brought home a toy helicopter made of paper, bamboo, cork and a rubber band.
3 8
9
Answers
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8 4
5
Celebrated on 17 December, our first names are Orville and Wilbur.
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2
2
4
3
1 4 3
5
2 9
7
1
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Have a laugh
Why do monkeys love bananas? What type of monkey works in a garage? What is a monkey’s favourite tool? Where does a 900kg gorilla sit?
Anywhere it wants to.
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A monkey wrench.
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A grease monkey.
We continued our interest in flying, inventing and building, eventually flying the world’s first aeroplane.
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Because they have appeal.
We played with it until it broke, then built our own.
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Bible byte
“The angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide’.” Luke chapter 2, verse 10, The Message Translation 15
Tum-Tum: is hiding behind the fgingerbread house page 5.
We are: The Wright brothers. Quiz: 1. Person of the forest 2. Borneo and Sumatra 3. Madagascar 4. Howler 5. Koko 6. He was the only known albino gorilla in the world. 5 4 2 6 8 1 7 9 3
7 3 9 4 2 5 1 6 8
1 8 6 3 7 9 2 5 4
Puzzle #1
8 6 5 1 9 2 4 3 7
2 1 7 5 4 3 6 8 9
3 9 4 7 6 8 5 2 1
4 5 8 2 3 7 9 1 6
9 7 1 8 5 6 3 4 2
6 2 3 9 1 4 8 7 5
Have you taken care of your Will? A gift in your Will can help The Salvation Army create a long-lasting impact in the lives of those experiencing hardship. Find out how you can start or continue your legacy of generosity. Contact The Salvation Army’s Wills and Bequests team and ask for a free Wills booklet. Together, we can give hope where it’s needed most long into the future. CONTACT US TODAY
1800 337 082 or visit salvationarmy.org.au/wills