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.
Look up
It is so easy to watch, read or listen to the news and feel powerless in the face of so much that is heartbreaking. How can we make sense of it all and respond in a way that might help relieve the suffering of so many? How can we address our own challenges and change the situations we are in?
We may not be able to end wars, eradicate diseases or restore relationships, but we can, as this week’s feature discusses, choose and live according to our values, believe in the good that exists in the world, and look up to find a better way. This doesn’t mean ignoring the world’s suffering but, rather, looking up in dark times to good, to what is possible –and ultimately, to God.
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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
Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au
All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58
Press date: 15 August 2025
Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
Our stories in this edition reflect this theme –Anthony’s piece on knowing that God is real because he “shows up” in the messy parts of life; Talia’s journey through loss and homelessness to finding support and hope; and the potential to change a life through a caring conversation.
Let’s believe in good –it really does exist.
Simone Worthing Editor
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SUPERMAN
Looking up when the world is dark
by Anthony Castle
I was given something sacred when I was young. I took it in my hands, unfolding a cloth that was stitched together from red, gold, and deep blue. I put it over myself, carrying it on my shoulders. It was a Superman cape.
The homemade costume was sold at the kindergarten fair. The colours weren’t quite right, but I wore that cape sincerely in the morning light, as I did for much of my childhood, occasionally beneath my everyday
clothes. I didn’t always know what to make of the world when I was a child, but when I wore that cape, I saw things differently. I could be powerful. I could save the day. I could be Superman.
The recently released Superman is written and directed by James Gunn, and revisits that core sincerity of the comic book legend. Superman, played by David Corenswet, has his good intentions questioned after billionaire Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, exposes the secrets of his alien origins and turns public opinion against him.
Not cool
Superman isn’t really cool these days. The character’s sincerity can seem naïve. He looks silly. He’s not punk rock. Kids don’t really want to be Superman anymore. Even in my own teenage years, I seemed to outgrow the character, and the cape went into a box. Gunn’s
JESSICA MIGLIO.
film tackles this feeling but also asks a larger question; in a world that can seem so broken and dark, can a childish myth like this still work? Can Superman save the day anymore?
The film’s tagline is ‘look up’, but we first meet our hero crashing back down to earth after losing a battle for the first time, and the attacks continue throughout the film. Superman is beaten, slandered, imprisoned, and cast into an eternal darkness that threatens to divide the world and swallow everything in its wake.
Superman even finds himself interrogated by star reporter and love interest Lois Lane. He believes his role is to do the most good, to serve others, and make the world a better place. Even Lois, played by Rachel Brosnahan, doubts him.
Goodness tested
Superman’s story has often had a gospel-like significance, with truth and justice its key values. Created by the children of Jewish immigrants, the character borrowed motifs from biblical characters like Moses and Samson and later accrued Christ-like significance. Gunn’s film feels more like the Book of Job, with Superman’s goodness put to the test as his suffering seems too much to bear.
The film is a morality tale, revolving around the symbols of sight and blindness, light and dark. Superman is powered by the sun, but at one point darkness wraps itself around him, suffocating him and blinding his eyes. Superman is trying to save a world that doubts his goodness, that even attacks him. If Superman can’t save the day, who can?
Now that I am a man,
I still don’t know what to make of the world. I have watched invasions on my phone, witnessed governments corrupted by billionaires, felt our descent into a posttruth era. The world seems divided. People suffer, children die. I am powerless.
Gunn’s film wrestles with this same feeling. It is a bombastic comic book world with robots and monsters, but the violence and corruption it depicts reflect our own. Superman is even deemed an illegal alien, arrested by masked agents, and locked up in a foreign gulag without due process.
None of us can be Superman, but Gunn’s film knows this. It isn’t necessarily Superman who exposes the billionaire, protects civilians, and faces the darkness breaking the world apart. Superman doesn’t actually save the day. Other people do, when they look to his goodness and start to choose it for themselves.
Goodness wins
Superman is powered by light, but his greatest strength seems to come from how he sees things. In the scene where Lois
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
questions Superman, she explains her own cynicism; I’m punk rock. I question everything. You trust everyone and think everyone you meet is beautiful. Superman’s answer is simple; maybe that’s the real punk rock.
I take a familiar fold of cloth from an old box. I still have the cape, though it’s been in my children’s bedroom for years now. I hold it in my hands one more time, and my daughter, the same age now as I was when I first wore it, looks up; you want to be Superman. I give the
cape to her to wear now. More than anything.
None of us are faster than a speeding bullet. We can’t leap over a tall building in a single bound. There are some things we can do though. We can see beauty, believe in good. We can speak the truth, act for justice, even if people think it naïve, even if we look silly.
I don’t wear a cape beneath my clothes anymore, but this childish myth did give me something sacred, that I still keep on the inside.
We choose the values we dress ourselves in. We can choose to carry them on our shoulders each morning, revealing them, when everything seems too much to bear.
We don’t stop believing in good because the world is broken. Precisely because the world is so broken is why we believe in good. When it’s dark is when we look up. That’s the gospel according to Superman, the simple power we’ve had all along.
The Bega Valley Salvos (NSW) recently presented the 1st Merimbula Scouts with its Helping Hand badge, as a token of thanks and recognition for their generous and outstanding service and support of its mission.
“The Bega Valley Salvos has partnered with the 1st Merimbula Scouts in serving the local community over the past year,” says Captain Henry Roehrig, Bega Salvos officer (pastor). “Their willingness to roll up their sleeves and join us for both the Red Shield Appeal and the Christmas Appeal has been invaluable. From collecting donations to spreading Christmas cheer, the Scouts have brought energy, teamwork and a strong community spirit to every activity.
Captain Henry Roehrig presents a Helping Hand badge to one of the Scouts.
“We’re so grateful for this partnership and look forward to many more opportunities to work together in bringing hope and help to those who need it most.”
Henry and Lieutenant Cindy Roehrig also received their Scout Chaplain badges.
Tackling challenges of homelessness
Salvation Army teams recently attended the Hunter Homeless Connect Day (NSW). It was a meaningful event, dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by our homeless community.
The Connect Day initiative is a collaborative effort spearheaded by a coalition of government and non-government services, supplemented by the tireless efforts of numerous volunteers.
Together, they combine in-kind and financial support from various organisations, community partners, and individuals to create a constructive and compassionate environment for those in need.
Barry Altman, right, with participants from various services at the Connect Day.
This year, dedicated teams from The Salvation Army’s Doorways and Employment Plus expressions worked and collaborated alongside homelessness services and the government voluntary service, Parent Pathways.
– Barry Altman
Off the Sh lf
An occasional column on all things books and reading e
All booked up for the day
by Major Mal Davies
Every now and then I like to read a whole book in one day. It doesn’t happen too often; mainly when I’m on holidays or when we have one of those lovely, drizzly, autumn days that are only good for reading a book and drinking hot Milo.
I should also add that you have to choose your book carefully. For me, it’s something under about 250 pages and something I’m keen to read – a riveting page-turner works better than a textbook on riveting.
Novellas are perfect. A standard novel is usually around 50,000 to 120,000 words – for example, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is about 65,000 words. However, a novella is only about 20,000 to 40,000 words. Faster readers can read one before lunch and one after lunch!
Some famous novellas are: Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck); Animal Farm (George Orwell); Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad) and Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson). Another bestselling novella is The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle; although at about 60,000 words, some would consider this Sherlock Holmes classic a novel.
Short stories
The other form of writing worth spending time with is the short story. Some may think stories are just written by students
at school, but good short story writing is a very challenging literary form. Anyone can write Moby Dick in 200,000 words but try writing it in 4000 words!
Some writers excel at this genre of writing and if you find a writer you like, it’s just a beautiful thing to curl up in front of a fireplace with an anthology of stories by that wordsmith.
One such writer is Jane Gardam, whose The People on Privilege Hill is a near perfectly written collection of stories. I’ve also enjoyed Tobias Wolff’s Our Story Begins and Tim Gatreaux’s Waiting for the Evening News. However, my favourite is James Joyce’s Dubliners, a collection of stories on 15 characters living in Dublin in the early 20th century. It’s masterfully written and equally amusing and moving.
Read a Book Day
Now, why am I talking about this notion of sitting down with a good book to read in one day? It’s because 6 September is ‘National Read a Book Day’. The day has been around for about 15 years and invites people to read a book, read with children, visit a library, hold a ‘book club’ get-together, or even just spend some time curating your bookshelf or donating some books to Salvos Stores.
I sat down recently and read my granddaughter some Dr Seuss books.
She loved them, as I knew millions of children have loved them over the past 60 years. She’s also more than familiar with Winnie-the-Pooh, Spot the dog, a particularly hungry caterpillar and a scruffy black dog called Hairy Maclary.
A life changed
If you’re still deciding what to dive into on ‘National Read a Book Day’, can I suggest you find a Bible (it’s a collection of 66 books in one book) and read a book in it called John – yes, just simple, straightforward
John, that’s all. It’s in the part of the book called the ‘New Testament’ and it tells of the life and work of Jesus.
You might be worried because the Bible is such a large book, but the book of John (named after its writer) is only about 15,000 words. If you read at an average pace of about 140 words a minute, you’ll finish the book comfortably in under two hours.
So, grab a Milo, find a comfy chair and get reading. Knowing the story of Jesus’ life may well change yours.
God is real to me because …
by Anthony Hunt
It’s a question that makes you stop and think: how is God real in my everyday life?
You could go digging into theology books and find big, complex answers – but they often feel a bit too polished, a bit removed from real life. For me, God’s reality shows up, not in tidy theories, but in the messy, uncertain parts of life.
When things fall apart – when you lose someone you love, miss out on a job you’d hoped for, or watch a relationship unravel – there’s often a flood of emotion: grief, confusion, anger. But somehow, even in those moments, I’ve found I can still feel a quiet, surprising sense of gratitude. Not for the hard stuff itself, but for life as a whole. And that, to me, points to something bigger than myself.
Comedian and practising Catholic Stephen Colbert said it beautifully when reflecting on losing his father and two brothers in a plane crash when he was a child:
“I want it to not have happened, but if you are grateful for your life, which I think is a positive thing to do, not everybody is – and I am not always – but it’s the most positive thing to do, then you have to be grateful for all of it.”
That quote has stuck with me. If I’m going to be grateful for life, I have to believe there’s someone who makes that kind of gratitude possible – even when I wouldn’t naturally feel it.
For me, that someone is God – made known through Jesus of Nazareth, and made personal through the Holy Spirit, who nudges me gently when I most need it. God is real to me because even when life is hard, I can still live with gratitude. And I don’t think I could do that on my own.
Captain Anthony Hunt is a Salvation Army officer (pastor) in Queensland
Ask R U OK? any day, because life happens every day
If you, or someone you know needs help, contact:
In an emergency, call 000
Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or chat online.
Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.
Domestic Violence assistance
A conversation could change a life.
Thursday 11 September is R U OK? Day, but we know that the people around us go through life’s challenges every day. That’s why the R U OK? team wants everyone to feel confident to check in with the people they care about and ask R U OK? Any day.
ruok.org.au
Australians report feeling grateful, supported and cared for when someone genuinely asks them if they’re OK - and that’s a good reason to give it a go,” the team writes (ruok.org.au). “You might even be having these conversations already without realising.”
13YARN: A national crisis line for Indigenous Australians. Call: 13 92 76
Scan here for RU OK? Day free resources.
“It’s natural to feel a little hesitant, but the good news is that nine in 10
Ask R U OK? any day of the year, because a conversation could change a life.
Picking up the pieces
Talia’s journey of strength
by Talia*
“You don’t realise how much you have until it’s gone,” says Talia. After experiencing a series of devastating losses, Talia found herself without a job, without hope and facing homelessness with her children. Relocating to Port Macquarie (NSW) to live with her sister, Talia found The Salvation Army, which provided immediate support, housing assistance and, above all, hope. Today, Talia is part of a church community and has grown in resilience and confidence. She is proud of how far she and her children have come.
You don’t realise how much you have until it is gone. You have experienced so much in so little time. You kind of give up.
I lived in Sydney with my husband and my daughter and his two sons from a previous marriage. I was a state operations manager at the time, and we had our own family business running. We were in a pretty good spot.
I think it was two or three weeks into my new role when the two boys were involved in a car accident and their biological mother passed away. That is when everything started to go downhill. I wasn’t able to function [with] working 16 hours a day and then being at the hospital for numerous hours afterwards.
Because I couldn’t fulfil my duties correctly, they had to let me go; and because I was the main income earner, we lost quite a bit. Three months after I had lost my role, my husband passed away. He suffered a heart attack. It was in the middle of the night, and you are never prepared for it.
Not long after that, we were essentially given two
Talia’s life began to turn around when she found help through the Salvos.
weeks before we were to be evicted from our home. I had nowhere to go.
My sister said to leave everything behind and just pack your car, come with the kids and I will help look after them. So, I went to Port Macquarie.
Starting again
We had nothing, basically just the clothes on our back, the car that I had, and that is how we were living.
When I came to Port, I wanted to see what was out there in the community. I wanted to find a good church group and community support. The first one that helped was The Salvation Army. You are never able to really comprehend how to continue with your life after you have lost somebody so dear to you.
You have gone through so much in so little time.
Only 12 months ago, I wasn’t able to hold my head up; I had given up on life in general. So, to know that a community hub existed to help people who are going through difficult times, helped.
Hope for the future
Not only did I find a good church group, but I also found support from Ian (Salvos emergency relief assessor) and the team. On top of that, I was given hope to carry on and the ability to move forward from the rut I was in and look ahead to a bright future.
There is a saying that it takes 30 days to make a habit and 90 days to make that part of your routine.
I knew that going to the gym would make me
a whole lot better, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally, because it allows you to [release] whatever it is that you have bottled up inside.
I have learnt that I am able to achieve things if I put my mind to it. And I think I have grown in a way where I am able to be proud of myself and my children and how far we have come.
*Name has been changed
Scan here to watch Talia share her story.
Pride in how far she has come, and hope for the future, are now part of Talia’s outlook on life.
Gluten-free avocado wrap
Ingredients
1 large avocado, 2/3 cup grated cheese, 1 egg, salt, fillings of your choice
Method
Preheat oven to 200°C.
Grease large baking tray and line with baking paper. In a bowl mix avocado (peeled and stone removed), cheese and egg, until smooth.
Season with salt.
Spread half of mixture into a rectangle shape on half of the tray, then the remaining mixture on the other half.
Bake for 20 minutes until golden. (This makes two ‘wraps’ – no bread wrap required!) Cool before removing from baking paper.
Fill one half of the ‘wrap’ with your favourite sandwich/ wrap fillings.
Fold over or roll up to serve.
☺ Believe in Good: Tips
National Threatened Species Day – 7 September
“O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104, verse 24
New Living Translation
Let’s find ways to look after God’s creation and help reduce the threat to our native plants and animals.
1. What does George Orwell call Great Britain in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four?
2. Which fictional character lived at 221B Baker Street?
3. Who is the main character in the book Around the World in Eighty Days?
4. Who wrote The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe?
5. Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was banned in which country?
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
Did you know?
Teddy Bears are the most popular toy worldwide.
The earliest known bear was made in 1887, belonging to Albert Lasker, a soldier who brought it back from France.
In the early 1900s, bears were used as comfort dolls for soldiers because they were gentle and nonthreatening.
Teddy bears are a popular gift, given to symbolise love and care.
There are more than 500 types of teddy bears on sale at any time.
Since 1905, teddy bears have been dressed up and used as companions to sick children in hospital.
✏Answers
Quiz: 1. Airstrip One 2. Sherlock Holmes 3. Phileas Fogg 4. C S Lewis 5. China Tum-Tum: is hiding behind the mug on page 9.
�� Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
a laugh
What do pandas pack for camping trips?
Why do pandas like old movies?
Why was there only ever one Yogi Bear?
What do you call a bear with no teeth? The bear necessities. Because they are black and white. A gummy bear. Because when they tried to make a second one, they made a Boo Boo.
“The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.”
