Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.
- Helen Keller
PHOTO BY SEBASTIÁN LEÓN PRADO ON UNSPLASH
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.
Summer fun
As this year hurtles to an end, summer holidays are on the horizon for many of us, especially students – around 4,132,006 school students across 9653 schools, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2024).
As many families face financial hardship, housing difficulties, job insecurity and personal struggles, having children at home for the summer can cause extra pressure, expense and stress.
This week, we feature some tips and ideas for a fun and budget-friendly summer holiday that can help families enjoy the break without spending a fortune. We also share some ideas for a summer savings plan to help gather a few extra dollars for the weeks ahead.
Scan here to connect with The Salvation Army services
Scan here to subscribe to Salvos Magazine
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
Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
For so many, though, a fun summer season is just a dream. Family breakdown, mental health, unemployment and other factors can just be overwhelming. As Will shares in My Story, help is out there. Nobody has to face a hungry, lonely summer without assistance and care.
If you need help, please scan the QR code on this page to connect with Salvation Army Services, go to salvos.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58).
Simone Worthing Editor
Start your summer savings
Summer is just around the corner. Love it or hate it, this time of year can get pricey! With the warmer weather come more events, more pressure leading up to Christmas, holidays – and next thing you know, you’re thinking about back-toschool supplies (for those with kids).
Before you start sweating, take a pause and think about one thing you might be able to do to put some money aside for summer.
Let’s call it your Summer Fun Fund.
Start with a goal
How much money will you save each payday?
What will you do with that money by the end of the year?
Where will you write down or record your goals, to make sure you stick to them?
Choose a simple system
How are you going to save that money? We recommend setting up a direct debit out of your bank account into a dedicated savings account.
Unsure how you’re going to find that extra money to put away?
Saving strategies to try:
• Stop a regular spend or reduce a habit. For example, cancel a subscription you’re not using and put that amount into your savings account.
• Start grocery shopping with a list and avoid impulse buys.
• Get a better deal by calling your electricity, gas, internet or insurance company. You can also use an independent comparison website.
• Check your bank statements for any items you think you can cut down on.
Support
for the journey
Can you find someone to do a summer savings challenge with you?
Research tells us that those with support are more likely to succeed in their goal. How can you reward yourself along the way?
Perhaps you can celebrate with a treat or your favourite activity when you save a certain amount.
Expect obstacles and be kind to yourself. Some weeks you’ll succeed, and you’ll also face setbacks. It’s all part of the process.
Help is available
If you’d like further support to help you manage your money, The Salvation Army Moneycare team members are great listeners and can help you come up with a plan to manage your money, even in challenging situations.
Call Moneycare on 1800 722 363 to make an appointment with a financial counsellor, or scan the QR code below for a live chat on the Moneycare website. Scan here for a live chat, contact details and more Moneycare information.
Summer holidays – simple ways to enjoy the sunshine
Summer holidays are a special time in Australia. The Christmas rush gives way to long, lazy days with beach trips, barbecues, sunshine and sport. But when the days are long and hot, many people find themselves under a lot of pressure. Our hope is that you can discover your happy place these holidays.
F.O.S.H. (FEAR OF SUMMER HOLIDAYS)
It is common to feel a level of financial anxiety during this supposedly silly season. Some reasons people may feel overwhelmed include additional childcare requirements, extra holiday costs, extensive to-do lists and feeling the need to entertain ‘bored’ kids.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR HOLIDAYS
We hear you – summer holidays can be tiresome. But as schedules change and the household mood shifts, this is a perfect time to reassess and reflect on what’s most important in life.
Your usual routine might feel out of whack, so why not change the lens of your outlook, embrace new adventures and connect more deeply with the people in your life? For those with young children, remember you only have 18 summers with your child and this is one of them!
Activity:
What are some of the pressures you feel during the summer holidays?
Our holiday secret:
You can take the (good) holiday feeling into the rest of the year!
OUR 5 TIPS FOR A JOY-FILLED HOLIDAY
You can take the holiday feeling into the rest of the year!
Keep it simple: It can be tempting to fill holidays with activities, so make sure you leave space to relax and connect with loved ones, neighbours or friends. Work out what’s essential and what to let go. Be intentional about how you spend your money.
Screen-time limitations: Set reasonable expectations about technology use. Holidays are supposed to recharge and promote health, but this could be hampered by too much screen time. Set an example for your family to follow. Some ‘house rules’ could include a 60-minute limit in the morning, and no screens between 9am and 4pm.
Socialise: Plan outings to connect with friends, extended relatives or others – suggest meeting for a barbecue, go to a park or plan house visits.
Time and space: It’s okay to ‘just be’. We don’t always need to be entertained. Allow time and space for rest (for everyone!), and create opportunities for creativity, exploration and problem-solving.
Plan a ‘staycation’: A staycation cuts down on travel expenses. It’s an intentional way to see your hometown through the eyes of a tourist!
Think like a tourist: What would you tell friends or family visiting your area to see or do? Ask around for recommendations and search local papers or online for free events coming up.
Brainstorm: Make sure activities are affordable and achievable. Some indoor examples include craft activities, board games, baking or pyjama days. Outdoor examples include picnics, bushwalks, bike rides or scavenger hunts.
Write a list of everything – more than you can do – then plot your staycation!
Scan here to download the Salvos Moneycare You’re the Boss: Money wisdom for life book.
Salvos Stores – more than just a business
Every day, Salvos Stores collect and resell donations from the public. Below, volunteer Suzanne and staff members Arash and Jay discuss the purpose and outcomes of their work in Western Australia.
“My experiences here are different every day,” says Suzanne. “I’m meeting very interesting people every day from all walks of life.
“The stuff that we sell … pays for, maybe [our] electricity, but all the rest goes back to the people, and it’s amazing because we get so many great things and it’s not going into landfill.
“There are so many millions of pieces, everything’s being recycled all the time. It’s not just being chucked away in the garbage.”
Bigger picture
Arash, Salvos Store Manager, explains that the purpose of Salvos Stores goes far beyond a business model. “Many people think we are just a business, just
op shops, and we’re making money and putting the money in our pocket. They don’t know that the money is actually helping a bigger picture – not just a vulnerable community, but it helps the environment, as well.”
Jay, Area Manager, Central WA Salvos Stores, says that “People come with a lot of hope and expectation with us, and we provide them the right direction. We help them with areas we can, whether it’s building a faith community or supporting the homeless or providing support to people who just walk in asking for assistance.”
It’s this extra help that Suzanne loves to be involved with. “The best part of the day is when you can help people that come in who are really down hard on their luck and they leave here with a smile on their face and have hope.
“This is what’s great about the Salvos.”
To watch the video of this story, go to tinyurl.com/yc5r65wp
Shop for a sustainable future
As the sales frenzy season approaches, it’s the perfect opportunity to shop with intention and make a positive impact with your spending. From 26 November to 2 December, Salvos Stores Online (salvosstores.com.au) is rolling out an exciting Cyber Weekend offer of 25 per cent off across the site. This is an opportunity to get a headstart on your Christmas shopping while supporting essential programs for those doing it tough.
Shopping sustainably involves making conscious decisions that not only benefit us, but also our planet and our communities. By choosing pre-loved, you’re supporting a more circular economy – reducing waste, reusing treasures and recycling for a longer-lasting planet. Plus, you’ll uncover unique finds that you won’t discover anywhere else.
Every dollar spent at Salvos Stores, both in stores and online, contributes to important initiatives that provide food, shelter and support to those who need assistance. This Cyber Weekend, your purchases will enable the Salvos to continue their invaluable work, offering hope and help to those facing hardships.
Correction
In the 27 September edition of Salvos Magazine, we published the photo on the right with the caption: Bess, (right) with fellow Salvos Peter (centre) and Jackie.
The correct caption is: Bess Hart (right) with fellow Salvos Alan Steven (centre) and Mrs Jackie Harvey.
A Sale for #Good
Salvos Stores Online has thousands of new items dropping weekly – so prepare to explore a vast range of goods from clothing and accessories to home decor and collectibles. And, for the inside word on special offers, you can sign up to Salvos Stores Full Circle Rewards program in stores (opt to email for updates). Ask a friendly team member next time you visit.
Remember, each purchase you make is a step toward a more sustainable future and a lifeline for those in need.
– Sarah Rowley Salvos Stores Customer Campaign Lead
God is real to me because …
by Sandra Mortimer
To say “God is real to me because …” brings up all sorts of theological and ideological questions.
Is something real only if it is seen? Or are there realities beyond our immediate senses?
In the Bible, we read that “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known” (John Chapter 1 verse 18; Berean Standard Bible).
So, Jesus makes God known to us. How does he do this?
Firstly, Jesus came to earth as the son of God, with all the qualities of God, but in
human form. Reading the Bible, we get to know the character of God through the words and actions of his son.
Secondly, Jesus taught humans like me to live in a way that is like God’s character. Jesus and many others called that way of living ‘The Kingdom of God’.
It’s a term that made sense to ancient people. Today, we often call it by another biblical term, ‘The Way’. For me, it’s that very ‘way of living’ that makes God real, above my philosophical and theological inquiries.
When we live God’s way, the way Jesus taught, we also make God real to each other.
I know people that have forgiven me for the awful things I’ve done. I have people in my life who believe in me when my self-worth is low.
I, too, can give others love and forgiveness and have hope for them when they let me down and live in a way I can’t understand. It’s the way of second chances, of unconditional love, of the first coming last, the poor being included, and the unjust being brought low. Then, ultimately, it’s a way that tells me of a hope for tomorrow and for life beyond now.
Finally, by dying to pay the price for everything we get wrong, Jesus bridged
the gap between us and God. God ‘out there’ became God with us and in us. His spirit guides us, prompts us, cautions us. God is real to me, not just because of what Jesus did and said, but because I have personal experience of him.
Is God real for you? I would encourage you to have a go. Explore God’s Word, the Bible, and look first at the life of Jesus.
As your faith grows, you will get to experience the reality of God.
Aux-Lieutenant Sandra Mortimer is a Salvation Army officer (pastor) in Northern Territory
When the cupboard is bare
Finding help in unexpected places
by Lerisse Smith
The moment Will first poured Coco Pops cereal into a bowl of full-cream milk is indelibly imprinted into his memory.
He was 10 years old.
For Will, it was a momentous occasion. There was finally food in the house to enjoy – not just rations to barely survive on.
And with it came something even more nourishing: hope.
Will remembers a time when life was easier. His parents were together and both worked steady jobs. They weren’t wealthy, but things were stable.
Then life changed forever.
Fighting for survival
“My mum disappeared,” he said. “We came back from being up the shops, she had disappeared, all the stuff gone.”
From that day forward, survival replaced stability.
Now a single dad, his father struggled to work, to pull himself up, to care for his children and provide for them.
Desperation at mealtimes quickly set in, and food became a competition between Will and his siblings, each vying for the biggest or extra portion.
Life also became quickly about getting by – however they could.
“Almost to survive, you knew that you had to do some things that you weren’t comfortable with,” he explained. “Being known as a ‘scab’ among schoolmates, as I didn’t have my own food; rather, I would need to go and hassle other kids for their food.”
Unexpected help
Then came a major turning point.
The mother of Will’s friend, active in the church, dropped off some bread on their doorstep, expecting nothing in return.
She mentioned a Foodbank, run by the Salvos, if they ever needed food. So, the family decided to check it out.
In a little community hall, the family was given a basket and told they could choose whatever they wanted. The food was laid out. No strings attached. Just help.
The family filled their basket in disbelief, amazed to find themselves choosing branded items instead of the usual no-name basics.
“I remember we just walked out and were like, what was that?!” Will recalled.
“I was anticipating they were going to hit us with some God chat,” he said. “I am so glad that they didn’t because it would have been such a barrier for us. What stuck around in my mind was just the desire to help above all else.”
His father began attending parenting groups and connecting with community. Life had one less worry, and food was finally enjoyed.
New outlook
Now working in the IT industry, Will has a different perspective on the Christian organisation that exists to help others.
“They are compelled by a mission,” he said. “Salvos were part of the food, but they are also part of some of these communities, some of these groups.
“And when we would come across someone from the Salvos, my immediate thought was, they are here to help. They are part of the good ones; they are the trustworthy ones.”
For those just surviving in the community and in need of help, he has a message.
“Show up as you are,” he emphasised. “You don’t need to know exactly what you want. Just start somewhere, let them know some of the things that you’re struggling with and see what comes forward. Trust that someone knows these sorts of challenges – and that they are going to help you through it.”
For the full story, go to salvosonline.org.au
Scan here to watch Will’s animated video
�� Chicken okonomiyaki
Ingredients
1 tsp oil; 250g chicken mince; ½ capsicum, deseeded, finely chopped; 125g green beans, thinly sliced; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; ½ cup plain flour; 4 eggs; 2 tbsp chilled water; 200g shredded cabbage
Optional: Cooking spray, salt, pepper, herbs
Method
Heat oil in large frypan over high heat.
Cook chicken, breaking up lumps, until browned.
Add capsicum, beans and garlic. Cook until soft, set aside.
Place flour, eggs and water in a large bowl, mix until smooth. Season to taste.
Add cabbage and chicken mixture. Combine.
Heat clean frypan over medium heat. Spray with oil, add ½ cup of mixture to pan and spread into 1cm-thick disc. Cook for 3 minutes each side until golden.
Serve hot with your favourite sauce and salad.
Believe in Good: Tips
21 November - World Hello Day
You never know what kind of impact you can have on someone by just saying hello. – Manti Te’o
1. Which British Prime Minister during WWII said, “We will fight them on the beaches”?
2. Who was the first African American president of the United States?
3. Who was the civil rights legend, notably known by his “I have a dream” speech?
4. Who was the former president of South Africa incarcerated for leading the resistance to the policy of apartheid?
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
Did you know?
Animation is the process of creating moving images by displaying static images in quick succession, with each image differing slightly from the previous image.
Traditionally, animation was created by handdrawn pictures and paints. With today’s technology, artists can create images directly onto a computer.
The first animated film was Humorous Phases of Funny Faces. It was created by J Stuart Blackton and shown in 1906.
The first animated movie from Disney was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released in 1937.
✏�� Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
4. Nelson Mandela Tum-Tum: is hiding outside the plane window on page 2.
3. Martin Luther King Jr
2. Barack Obama
Answers Quiz: 1. Winston Churchill
�� Have a laugh
What should you listen to when hiking?
What do you call a jacket you wear when hiking?
Did you hear the joke about the mountain?
The worst thing about reaching the top of the mountain?
Bible byte
A trail mix. A trail blazer. I couldn’t get over it. It’s all downhill from there.
“I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.”
Micah chapter 7, verse 7 New International Version
