Others Newsletter - June 2022

PRAYING AS A TERRITORY » PAGE 2

LIVING OUR MISSION » PAGES 4 & 5

RENOVATING YOUNG LIVES » PAGE 10

SAFE SPACE FOR MEN » PAGE 15

SALVATION STORY » PAGE 16

JUNE 2022 CONNECTING SALVOS IN MISSION

Open doors, open hearts

God's vision taking shape in Sydney's south others.org.au

FROM OUR LEADERS

r e y a pr

Joining as a territory in

By Commissioner Robert Donaldson

Whilst prayer is an all-day, everyday activity, it is important that we join as a territory in seasons of corporate prayer, to thank, worship and praise God, and to listen carefully to God together.

“Without me, you can do nothing.” These are the words of Jesus to his followers, spoken as part of his illustrative teaching about the vine and branches (John 15).

Please join us for 22 Days of Prayer under the title ‘Jesus Centred: without me, you can do nothing’. We commence on Sunday 21 August and conclude on Sunday 11 September.

Resources will be available on MySalvos and SalvosCentral, and we encourage you to join us in the national online prayer meeting each evening at 7.30pm AEST.

Jesus doesn’t say, “without me, you can do a little” or “without me, you can do some”. He categorically states, “without me, you can do nothing”. Therefore, as a Christian movement, we are completely wasting our time and energy if we try to do anything without Jesus.

We look forward to joining you in prayer.

Prayer is a wonderful invitation to ‘sit with Jesus’, listen to him, and share our hopes, desires and concerns. Prayer energises and focuses us on the coming of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 6) in our lives and communities and ensures that we are strongly connected to the outworking of God’s ‘good, pleasing and perfect will’ (Romans 12).

‘You have been sent here for

“Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him” (Hebrews 10:22).

Commissioner Robert Donaldson Territorial Commander

s r e h ot

By Colonel Winsome Merrett

In 1910, a telegram with the word ‘Others’ was thought to have been sent to Salvationists around the world by Salvation Army founder General William Booth. He hoped that this oneword message would encapsulate the global mission of The Salvation Army and compel greater action for others.

Co-founder Catherine Booth summed it up wonderfully: “You are not here in the world for yourself; you have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!”

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’ This notion of helping others – echoed through our vision of transforming Australia, one life at a time with the love of Jesus – continues to motivate us to live out our mission of caring for people, creating faith pathways, building healthy communities and working for justice.

In Mark 10:45, Jesus said: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Colonel Winsome Merrett Chief Secretary June 2022

VIEWPOINT

g n i r t n Ce f l e s r u o y e f i l f o map on the

By Major Phil Inglis Since moving to a new city at the beginning of this year, I have used my GPS a lot!

The other night, I was going to meet friends for dinner at their house, and since I had never been there before, I punched the address into my phone’s GPS and followed its guidance until I arrived at my destination.

I have used my GPS to get to cafes, conferences and concerts. I have relied on it to get me to shops, work and the airport. I am truly grateful for this technology, and I am sure I am not the only one. GPS has become common practice for many people as they drive, walk, run, cycle and catch public transport.

The other day I was having coffee with someone, and they asked me if I had a street directory. Do you remember those? I was reminded that the fundamental advantage of a GPS over a street directory is that it tells you where you are. It is a Global Positioning System. The same maps exist in the GPS as exist on paper in a street directory, but the GPS adds a digital ‘YOU ARE HERE’ marker. This is helpful in a new city because it’s so easy to get lost. If we have no ‘YOU ARE HERE’ marker, our maps are useless, and our destination will be beyond our reach.

When I was growing up, the Bible was described to me as a manual or a roadmap for life. This is certainly true. The Kingdom of God is described as the coming reality in which injustice, imprisonment, separation, conflict, doubt and death are all eliminated, and instead, we live in wisdom, justice, peace, freedom and love. This is the destination, and the Scriptures are the map.

The problem is that maps and destinations are not enough. We need to know where we are in relation to that destination. We need to know if we are near or far. We need to know whether to travel north, south, east or west others.org.au

or any other direction. To complicate things even more, life has ups, downs, shifts and slips. There are sharp turns and U-turns, and there are many times we are just not sure where we are anymore. Not to mention our human tendency to disregard, ignore or miss directions.

We need a system to help us figure out those times so that we can re-route and get back on track, even if it means that sometimes we have to “perform a U-turn when safe to do so”. Scriptures by themselves are not enough – we need God. We need divine help in finding ourselves. One man who knew the power of this kind of positional information was King David, who prayed: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

If you feel a bit lost in life, if you have great goals and dreams but never seem to reach them, if you have a significant calling but never seem to see it fulfilled, then perhaps it might help to spend some time in prayer. Ask God to investigate your life, to give you a clear picture of where you are and then ask God to re-route and give you updated guidance.

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MISSION IN ACTION

n o i t c a s n Tra or ? n o i t a m r o Transf

By Rod Yule When community members come to a business, they engage in a transaction – and a service is provided.

When community members come to The Salvation Army, our prayer is that the engagement is more than a transaction. Our vision is to ‘transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus’. This is much more than a transaction, and in God’s purposes, that transformation will be mutual – for us and the community member.

No doubt, some people come to The Salvation Army looking for a simple transaction – to collect an emergency relief payment, pick up a meal or find a warm bed for the night. The danger is that the community member is seen as nothing more than a ‘poor person’ or a ‘welfare recipient’ we can help. The Salvation Army is seen as little more than a charity for a handout.

At one level, transactional ministry is easy. We can stand behind a desk, distribute goods to people, and not engage with them as people. Like a bank or business, they turn and go away – transaction complete.

How do we move from transactional to transformational ministry?

To move from a transactional to a transformational ministry can be costly. The community member might be socially awkward, under the influence of a drug, or suffer from a mental health issue. Their clothes might not be clean or fragrant. Sitting and having a coffee and chatting with them could be challenging – for us.

It is a major change for some in the way we do ministry ‘to the poor’ to a ministry ‘with or alongside the poor’.

When helping hurts When Helping Hurts is a book that affirms that “until we embrace our mutual brokenness, our work with lowincome people is likely to do far more harm than good (p.

61)”. One of the biggest problems in ministries is that they promote a sense of superiority for the giver and feelings of inferiority and shame for the recipient.

They argue that in transformational ministries, “the goal is to see people restored to being what God created them to be: people who understand that they are created in the image of God with the gifts, abilities and capacity to make

Noarlunga Corps in South Australia offers a place for members of the community to gather and chat over a coffee.

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June 2022

MISSION IN ACTION

Bayside Corps’ Daniel and Lisa Rylance are committed to serving the community that once served them.

The community garden at Gravel Hill, Bendigo.

Connecting with the community with Noarlunga Corps’ ‘Brekkie and Chat’.

decisions and to effect change in the world around them; and people who steward their lives, communities, resources, and relationships in order to bring glory to God (p. 77)”. The community member is seen as a unique, precious person with a rich history, full of stories, abilities and experiences.

At corps like Caloundra in Queensland, Bendigo in Victoria and Noarlunga in South Australia, community members are valued for who they are and are seen as much more than ‘welfare recipients’. These are places where people might come just for a transaction and find they are welcomed, loved, and given the opportunity to be involved in something much more than the delivery of a food voucher.

The teams, primarily made up of a dedicated group of volunteers, have created an environment where community members can sit, talk, have a cuppa and something to eat and come back each week, regardless of whether they need ongoing emergency relief. They can find themselves welcomed into a faith community where they experience the generous welcome of God.

find their insights and concerns important or interesting (p. 80)”. They note William Booth’s comment that “One of the secrets of the success of The Salvation Army is that the friendless of the world find friends in it.”

This is where we will see God transform lives – the community members we serve and our own.

Rod Yule is The Salvation Army General Manager, Local Mission Delivery and Resources

No ‘us and them’ Heuertz and Pohl, in Friendship at the Margins, argue that a focus on relationships and friendship rearranges our assumptions and challenges conventional categories of ‘otherness’. This means recognising shared mutuality and rejecting an ‘us and them’ way of viewing others.

God is recognised to be already present in the lives of the vulnerable, and “people are transformed when someone is willing to listen to their stories, share a meal with them, and others.org.au

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REVIEWS

Wesleyan Perspectives on Human Flourishing – Editors Dean G. Smith and Rob. A. Fringer Reviewed by Doug Davis Wesleyan Perspectives on Human Flourishing is the engaging title of 12 essays by theological academics associated with the Australian Centre for Wesleyan Research. The editors – Dean G. Smith and Rob A. Fringer – are faculty members of the Nazarene Theological College, Queensland.

Of particular interest to Salvationists is Dean G. Smith’s essay ‘The Salvation Army and the Challenge of Higher Education in the New Millennium’. Major Smith, a retired Salvation Army officer, served for over 30 years in various Australian appointments. Also pertinent is ‘Exploring Salvationist Understandings of Holiness in the Anthropocene’, by Matthew D. Seaman.

The essays explore a range of contemporary issues such as calling, creation care, healthcare, education, technological enhancements, death and dying. The book is a theological smorgasbord that offers solid food for thought but might prove hard for some readers to digest. However, this rigorous work should reward committed readers and is recommended by Commissioner Robert Donaldson.

Available online at wipfandstock.com.

Here To Remember – Outside Worship Reviewed by Jessica Morris Outside Worship is a New Yorkbased Salvation Army music collective. Their debut album merges the spirit of choruses from the 1990s and 2000s with a rich, charismatic sound.

Comprised of Marty Mikles, Anna Street and Phil Leager, the live recording engages the listener with Spirit-infused lyrics that are easy to sing.

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Songs like ‘Passion’ and ‘Nobody But You’ echo their Salvo heritage while braving a modern path.

All up, this album urges young Salvationists to remember their roots while worshipping in Spirit and truth. This is a timely and well-balanced display of what the modern Salvation Army could sound like in the Christian music industry.

And with a variety of instrumentation, including the rip-roaring acoustic vibes of ‘All Your Love’, akin to Rend Collective, there is something for all ages in this musical offering.

Available online with a free PDF devotional. Visit outsideworship.com.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History Vol 7 Issue 1 Reviewed by Merv Collins Let me introduce you to what I consider to be one of the Army’s best-kept secrets: The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, a biannual 170page online magazine featuring scholarly, but never dull, papers on Army historical events and Salvationist book reviews, all accompanied by excellent pictures and graphics.

The latest edition has papers on the facts and background surrounding Fighting Mac’s Sunshine Song, the Army’s role in training nurses and health care workers in PNG, the first Salvationist wedding in the Philippines and more about commemorative and fundraising buttons than you’ll ever need to know. The breadth of research to each story is thorough and educational.

Add in reviews of several books by or about Salvationists and a charming reminiscence from a woman whose placement in The Salvation Army children’s home in Canowindra changed her life, and you have a journal full of interest to anyone who loves the history of our movement and its people.

I’ve become a subscriber – I’d recommend you do the same.

Subscribe for free or contribute by emailing ajsahistory@ gmail.com June 2022

PHOTO: STOCK / GETTY IMAGES

s w e i v Re

d l e i h S d Re eal App

ARMY ARCHIVES

Is the

older than we think?

Advertisement in Brisbane newspaper The Telegraph from 1939

By Garth R. Hentzschel

Scan QR code to see more Army Archives articles on Others.org.au The Red Shield Appeal structure embedded in the memory of most Australians came from Canada and arrived on our shores in 1965. However, as is often the case, this story is not all that it appears. The name ‘Red Shield Appeal’ had been used much earlier in Australia and therefore may not have completely been the brainchild of Salvationists in Canada.

In November 1939, a leader of the former Australia Eastern Territory, Lieutenant-Commissioner W. R. Dalziel, talked on Brisbane radio. His topic was ‘The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal’. This discussion appeared to be the commencement of the fundraising efforts of The Salvation Army’s work with troops during World War Two. While the fundraising activities were often called the ‘Red Shield Appeal’, this may have been a shorter title for the ‘Red Shield Hut(s) Appeal’, the ‘Red Shield War Fund Appeal’, or similar titles. These appeals started in Queensland in 1939, but by 1941, similarly named appeals appeared in most Australian states. The name ‘Red Shield Appeal’ appeared in newspapers from 1939 to 1947. The name again appeared as an appeal from 1952 to 1955 to finance The Salvation Army’s work during the Korean conflict and later general work with troops.

The 1965 rendition of the Red Shield Appeal differed in a few areas. The collection moved from the streets of major populations to doorknocking at every door. It transformed from a state and locally run appeal to a nationwide event.

Salvation Army appeals from 1914 often sold buttons, badges, tags or pins to raise funds; this was not usual for the later Red Shield Appeal. In addition to these, finances from the new appeal structure went to general social work funds of the Army and not just the work of The Salvation Army (War Work) Defence Services. This last point is the major difference between the appeal in the 1940s/1950s and the new structure of the 1960s. If this last point is used to define the name ‘Red Shield Appeal’ in Australia, then there is another contender for the first use of this title.

In September 1931, The Herald, a Melbourne newspaper, titled an Army ‘Appreciation Day’ as the ‘Red Shield Appeal’. others.org.au

Red Shield Appeal Button from 1931 A section of the article from The Herald 1931 that first used the name “Red Shield Appeal”

The appeal in the 1930s aimed to sell 50,000 badges in the shape of the Army’s red shield to “enable the Army to meet the heavy demands upon its organisation to feed the hungry and clothe the poor”. The appeal was organised by the famed Salvation Army officer and songwriter, Colonel Arthur S. Arnott, son of the founder of Arnott’s biscuits. The Red Shield Appeal was not the ‘official’ name of the appeal; however, it is of interest that the newspaper used such a name over 30 years before the structured appeal with which we all became familiar.

The Red Shield Appeal in 1931 not only showed the name could be used and recognised but also that The Salvation Army could run an appeal that did not separate its belief from its practice. The badges, or buttons as they were called, that were sold had written on them, ‘Appreciation Day. God Bless You’ and on another, ‘Peace and Goodwill’.

This information shows that the name ‘Red Shield Appeal’ has a long history. As in the past, we pray that God will bless the giver.

Garth R. Hentzschel is a Salvationist living in Brisbane, a freelance historian, and the Executive Editor of the Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History.

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r o f n o i s God ’s vi e p a h s s e k a t s o v l a S e Shir EVERYDAY SALVOS

The four-month COVID-19 lockdown in NSW last year failed to stifle God’s plans for Shire Salvos in Sydney, with five mission expressions now operating.

Jesus,” he said. “We see that happening through building healthy communities in many different contexts and creating opportunities for faith pathways to be built.”

In addition, the first steps have been taken in realising the vision to create a state-of-the-art combined churches missional centre at Miranda.

During the latest COVID-19 lockdown, members of the Shire Salvos faith community were encouraged to meet one-onone with others, both people of faith and people open to faith, and have intentional conversations.

Shire Salvos covers the vast Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney, as well as Panania in south-west Sydney and Helensburgh, the most northern suburb of the Illawarra.

In 2019, Miranda Corps and Menai Corps started working together to deliver mission and ministry. By 2021, ‘Shire Salvos’ became one entity, with gathered Sunday worship taking place at its Menai location and the central Miranda site becoming a hub of Salvation Army services.

Mission Leader Mark Soper said Shire Salvos is one body of faith with many different faith expressions. “Our vision is to transform the Shire one life at a time with the love of

“We want to see transformed lives,” says Mark. “It’s not about us doing more programs; it’s about our people aligning themselves with God and allowing themselves to be used to glorify him. God has a specific plan for each of us, and if we live that out, I believe we will see revival in the Shire.”

Local mission leaders There are currently five different locations within Shire Salvos – Engadine, Helensburgh, Menai, Miranda and Panania. Shire Salvos is working towards having a mission leader situated at each expression – whether a Salvos Store, community centre or a gathered worshipping space in a corps building.

Already, there is a mission leader at Helensburgh, Lauren Martin, who oversees an expression better known as ‘2508 Salvos’. Lauren likes to be mobile in ministry and operates out of several places – the local Salvos Store, a local Baptist-run coffee shop and facilities, and organic housechurch expressions.

At Panania, a playgroup is already running alongside a Salvos Store. Natalie Sheehan started there in 2021 as the mission leader and will develop a relationship with store volunteers, staff and customers, as well as build community in a variety of different ways. A coffee shop will be constructed inside the store and will be a place to have informal chats and run small groups.

“It’s all about connecting with people,” says Mark. “Through every door that The Salvation Army has in the Sutherland Shire, there will be an opportunity for faith pathways. A journey of friendship and kindness.”

Every Friday at the Helensburgh Salvos Store, 2508 Salvos runs a ‘Boost your Friday’ drop-in group that explores aspects of positive psychology and how we can live full, healthy lives!

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At Engadine, the current Family Store will be moved to larger premises and transition to a Salvos Store, with space carved out for mission. “We want to provide an opportunity for all of the staff, volunteers and shoppers there to connect with someone who loves Jesus.”

June 2022

EVERYDAY SALVOS

Centre of hope at Miranda Another major part of the vision is the exploration of a redevelopment of the Shire Salvos Miranda site, which has been dreamed about for the past 15-20 years.

An Expression of Interest (EOI) has gone out for a development partner for the site, which will see a development consisting of units, office space, and retail/ commercial space on the bottom floors. The Salvation Army will retain a number of units for transitional housing for people in need, as well as the large ground-floor space and offices for mission and service delivery.

“The ground-floor area will be a massive Salvos Store and a cafe and a community space that would be used all throughout the week, including faith gatherings,” says Mark.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Godkin was appointed as the Miranda Mission Leader earlier this year.

Already, several Salvation Army services operate from Miranda, such as Oasis Reconnect, Drive for Life, SAL Connect, casework and a William Booth House Alcohol and Other Drugs Services worker. The Army also partners with several other churches and community services to deliver food relief throughout the week. In the future, Mark says those partnerships will expand.

“I truly believe that unity will see revival,” Mark said. “Revival won’t come until churches work together for the salvation and transformation in people’s lives. I believe The Salvation Army is part of bringing people together. It’s already happening in the Shire, and this is just the beginning."

Shire Salvos Mission Leader Mark Soper – “Through every door that The Salvation Army has in the Sutherland Shire, there will be an opportunity for faith pathways.”

Shire Salvos Miranda operates the Sutherland Shire Community Co-Op with the help of dozens of dedicated volunteers. Pictured here are volunteer Geoff, volunteer Edward, Miranda Mission Leader David, Shire Salvos Mission Leader Mark and volunteer Bob.

others.org.au

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s e l a W h t New Soandu n a i l a r t s Au al Capit y r o i t r r e T DIVISIONAL NEWS

Left: Oasis Team Leader Matthew Fox and case workers Elaine Abraham and Casey Brown.

Below: Case worker Elaine Abraham and NSW/ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coordinator Sue Hodges.

Oasis ‘renovating’ young people’s lives

By Jessica Morris

Lives change when people have a safe space to heal – and the team at Oasis Youth Services in Newcastle know this better than most.

Every year, the Salvation Army-run centre, based in the suburb of Hamilton, supports young people aged 12-25 across the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter regions to develop independence.

Now, thanks to a $23,000 grant from Port Waratah Coal Services, the centre has a refurbished therapeutic room.

Named Kaiyu Corner, after the Awabakal word meaning ‘power’, it provides young people with an engaging and culturally appropriate zone to receive counselling and do group work, specialising in early intervention from alcohol and other drugs (AOD).

“Our team is looking forward to using the different areas within the room to support clients, including the yarning circle and the pamper zone. We are thankful that Port Waratah has shared our vision for this project and partnered with us to make a difference in the lives of young people in Newcastle,” said a representative from Oasis Youth Services.

“We have clients going through [difficult] things in life, including homelessness, domestic violence, family breakdowns, and unemployment. They come along the journey with the AOD space, and our focus is around our preventative early-intervention strategies for people,” says Robyn Bust, Program Manager for Oasis Youth Services across the NSW Central Coast and Hunter regions.

“When we’ve got a young person coming for an appointment, we don’t know what their morning has looked like or what the previous night has entailed for them. So having a room like what we’ve created breaks down some of those barriers. It creates a welcoming and safe space that is not clinical for us to engage with them.”

At the official opening, Hennie du Plooy, CEO of Port Waratah Coal Services, said the renovation provided a much-needed reinvigoration of the space to make it appealing and culturally appropriate for young people to reach out for support when they needed it.

“At Port Waratah, we are very pleased to support this project to deliver an engaging, youth-friendly and culturally-rich space designed to maximise positive outcomes for troubled young people,” he said.

The site formerly had a recreation room designed as a drop-in centre. After falling into disrepair, Oasis sought funding to refurbish the area to better support its programs and services, including case management, employment training, and their Drive for Life program.

This financial collaboration has been vital. Oasis workers are aware the needs of their community are far greater than their resources, particularly considering the national housing crisis and COVID-19. This makes the therapeutic room even more important for clients and case workers.

Since opening in December, Oasis staff have seen new life flow from the refurbished area, which also includes a private counselling space and patio. This has been made all the better by the inclusion of interactive sensory elements such as a pool table and a make-up area.

“Working in partnerships with people is a huge priority for us, and it adds so many more layers to what we’re doing,” says Robyn. “To be able to have clients walk into a space like [Kaiyu Corner] and just instantly feel at home and not so anxious about the appointment they’re walking into [is amazing].”

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June 2022

d n a l s n Quee

DIVISIONAL NEWS

Family Store opens door to affordability

By Cliff Worthing

In an isolated Far North Queensland community where the cost of living is staggeringly high, the Mornington Island Family Store is already making a positive difference less than a month after opening, according to Major Ben Johnson, Cairns Corps Officer.

“What we are doing is a very simple thing, but it’s already changing the community,” Ben said.

Mornington Island is 50 minutes flying time from Normanton in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The only available transport to and from the mainland is by aeroplane, making it expensive for residents to shop.

At $2 per item, clothing and kitchen items suddenly become affordable and provide competition to other local stores to moderate their pricing.

Mornington Shire Council is one of the project partners, and Mayor Kyle Yanner says The Salvation Army-run store is warmly welcomed. “You only need to look at the cost of our basic grocery items compared to that on the mainland and in the bigger cities to appreciate the toll that this alone takes on our people. We hope the opening of the store can play a part in starting to ease some of the pressure our community faces every day,” he said.

Ben said the store generated about $1400 per day in the opening few days, demonstrating it is meeting a critical need.

The store opens for five hours each Tuesday and Thursday, but these hours may be extended in response to demand.

“Our stores in this area are more than retail stores but community enterprises,” Ben said. “[We offer] reasonably priced goods to those who need it most. When we deliver, it gives a sense of hope that they aren’t left behind and they can get ahead.”

The Mornington store offers some locals employment, and any profits are reinvested in the community as determined by the working group represented by each of the partners in the joint venture.

The Salvation Army provides goods and training. Bynoe Community Advancement Co-operative Society (CACS) provides the shopfront rent-free and support for the workers. Mornington Shire Council provides recruitment others.org.au

Cairns Corps Officer Ben Johnson with Violet Taulanga (Council community development officer), David Adams (from Bynoe) and Mayor Kyle Yanner.

support, and a community member is also on the working group to ensure a predominantly local direction.

Bynoe CACS approached The Salvation Army about two years ago requesting help to address the cost of living in remote communities. Ben wrote a project proposal as part of his Masters of Global Development course, using his learning to establish a social enterprise specifically for Indigenous communities.

The project received funding from The Salvation Army Indigenous ministry department; in 2020, The Salvation Army made grants available to mission expressions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry projects. This program aims to fund projects that address hardship or injustice for our First Nations peoples and supports the Army’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Goods are collected on the mainland and transported to The Salvation Army warehouse in the Normanton township as the distribution centre to Mornington Island and surrounding areas. Normanton warehouse has been operating for three months as a shopfront.

“The social enterprise model involves partnering with locally established organisations, providing goods at affordable prices and developing other support services such as SalConnect (emergency relief) and financial counselling,” Ben explained. Future plans include pop-up stores in nearby communities of Burketown and Doomadgee.

“We had to get innovative in the way we do things, how we support workers remotely – some of whom speak English as a third language – integrate processes between the different organisations and be culturally safe,” Ben said.

“It’s not an easy place to live in but has an amazing beauty in all sorts of different ways.”

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DIVISIONAL NEWS

V ictoria

Gateway to building community in Boronia

By Jessica Morris

A partnership between Salvation Army mission and social expressions has forged new ground in the Melbourne outer-east suburb of Boronia.

Two refurbished houses on the Boronia Corps property now house residents from The Salvation Army Gateways crisis accommodation and support program, enabling clients to receive extended case management and support to break the cycle of homelessness.

“This [partnership] has been on my heart for a long time – this is the mission of the Army,” shares Gateways Manager Leanne Foster.

Boronia Corps and the Gateways program come under the Metro East Area Leadership Team, led by Area Officer Major Bram Cassidy.

“Bram has been instrumental in assisting both Boronia Corps and Gateways with the vision and implementation of this shared mission plan,” shares Leanne.

Gateways provides six-week crisis accommodation and support for single adults over the age of 25 and families of any age with accompanying children who are experiencing primary homelessness.

The Shared Mission Accommodation Project (REMAP) program will provide clients with the opportunity for longer-term accommodation and support whilst working on their case-plan goals.

Gateways is in Croydon, north of Boronia, on a four-acre property and can accommodate eight single adults as well as five families. In addition, the program supports 19 offsite crisis Transitional Housing Management properties within the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.

This short-term crisis model provides clients experiencing primary homelessness with accommodation and support to address their immediate needs.

The additional houses at Boronia Corps provide an opportunity to extend a client’s support period, allowing them the opportunity to work on their goals in a supportive environment.

“Given one of the most difficult issues for clients is the lack of community connection, REMAP provides not only

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Area Officer Major Bram Cassidy speaks at the blessing ceremony at Boronia Corps for the Shared Mission Accommodation Project that has been implemented in Melbourne’s outer-east.

accommodation but also the community linkages via the corps,” says Leanne. “Clients will have the opportunity to link with corps activities including attending Sunday worship, play groups, youth groups as well as volunteering at the corps-based thrift shop.”

The two houses were refurbished in 2021, with the assistance of the Army’s Property Department. Salvation Army Housing Victoria is also a part of the venture, managing tenancies for these properties.

Boasting three bedrooms in each, one hosts a family. The other will be a share house for single males – members of the homeless population who typically struggle to find housing due to their status.

“Housing outcomes for single adults are not great. It is usually a shared option such as a rooming house because they can’t afford to rent privately,” says Leanne. “Many are on the Disability Support Pension or JobSeeker Payment.

For these properties, we [are carefully selecting] clients who are working towards being job-ready, as well as having managed mental health and AOD (alcohol and other drugs). [Through this] we can work alongside our clients for an extended period of time.”

The wraparound care that tenants will receive means they can become a part of the corps community if they wish. In addition to the corps and thrift shop, E-plus and Doorways are on-site. “[This partnership] is such a reminder of why we do what we do,” says Leanne. “We have to come back to [the Salvation Army founder] William Booth’s vision in the work we do – his vision was so God-inspired.”

June 2022

a i n a m s a T

DIVISIONAL NEWS

Livvy sends ‘luv’ around the world

By Jessica Morris

Olivia Earl wants to change the world – well, she wants to play her part. That’s why the intrepid 10-year-old, better known as Livvy, learned to sew her own cloth masks this year. But the junior soldier from Hobart Corps is doing more than saving the world from landfills.

When her masks started selling like hotcakes, she decided to donate a portion of the profits to The Salvation Army – all because she wanted people to know they don’t need to hide their imperfections from God. “I want people to know that you don’t have to be special – you are special by yourself. You are perfect the way you are,” says Livvy. “Everyone is accepted [by God].”

Livvy’s quest to help change the world began in January when she rescued the family sewing machine from the garage – an heirloom her mum, Meg, says, “has been in the garage longer than Livvy has been alive!”

“I saw that all the single-use masks that were going to waste, and we had a sewing machine stuffed in the garage. So, I got it out and googled how to make masks,” shares Livvy.

“I didn’t really think about selling the masks – I just wanted to make myself one. But my family saw how good they were and wanted to buy them!” she says.

Livvy got creative with fabric and elastic and was soon making beautiful masks for her immediate family. But after a birthday party, everyone started ordering their own unique

Livvy at the sewing machine making one of her masks.

Livvy creation, and ‘Luv Livvy’ was born. The burgeoning business also sells bookmarks, bags and scrunchies, and they have shipped orders around the world.

With a loyal client base came a stream of profits – and that’s when Livvy knew there was more than one way she could change the world. She decided a third of her earnings would go towards a charity, and The Salvation Army was an obvious choice.

Her father is a lifelong Salvationist, and Livvy has attended Hobart Corps since she was four. So, she asked her mum if they could use the money to create women’s care packages.

After chatting with Hobart Corps Officers Captains Johnmark and Nicole Snead, they went to town, creating gift bags filled with practical, tangible love.

“I chose [to donate to] the Salvos because I know that they help a lot of people, and I thought they would appreciate some bags with toiletries and personal care items. They can help a lot of people out, especially in rough times, and make them feel safe,” Livvy says.

It was a donation that meant the world to the team at Hobart Corps, who are inspired by her determination to make a difference.

“Livvy was horrified to learn about what happens to disposable face masks and how they just end up in landfill or around an animal’s neck, so she decided to do something about it. How amazing is she!” says Nicole.

The world is Livvy’s oyster as she expands her repertoire of handmade goods – and every object is made with purpose and a whole lot of love. Something her mum can testify to.

“Livvy lives what she reads in the Bible every day. She really takes on what she learns at church, at school and at home, and embraces it. That’s how she lives,” says Meg. Way to go, Livvy! Thank you for living, loving and creating like Jesus, every day!

Hobart Corps Officer Captain Nicole Snead and Livvy with bags of masks ready for distribution.

others.org.au

Pick up your own Luv Livvy creation now at facebook.com/ LuvLivvyMasks.

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a i l a r t s u A hern Territory South and Nort

DIVISIONAL NEWS

Life-long partnerships in Alice Springs

By Jessica Morris The Red Shield Appeal has been a part of St Philip’s College in Alice Springs for more than half a century. Every year since 1970, students have volunteered to fundraise for the essential mission work of The Salvation Army.

“This year, we saw students in all red in May, actively promoting the Red Shield Appeal through their school network and having our officers attend and speak at an upcoming assembly,” shares Sally Courtney, Public Relations Manager for the Northern Territory.

Boasting 650 students from grades 7-12, the Uniting Church-run college attracts enrolments from all over Australia due to its emphasis on sports, performing arts and community service initiatives.

Students can incorporate community service into their academic schedules by facilitating the Duke of Edinburgh program. Beyond the Red Shield Appeal, home economics students have also cooked meals for The Waterhole Community Centre since 2008.

“The doorknocking has been a tradition for the school; however, we are open to further helping the Salvos wherever possible,” says Principal Robert Herbert.

(From left) Jill Jansons (Director of Marketing and Community Relations for St Philip’s College), Sally Courtney (The Salvation Army Public Relations Manager – NT) and Sandi Crogan (Community Service Coordinator at St Philip’s College).

The Salvation Army first visited Alice Springs in 1930; however, the work officially began in the town in 1965 under the leadership of Majors Hilton and Wilga Morris.

At this time, they developed a partnership with the burgeoning school, which was run by Rev Dr Fred McKay [of the Royal Flying Doctor Service].

Today, the Army continues to serve the community through the corps and thrift store. In addition, The Waterhole provides meals, a craft space and laundry facilities. Since 1989, The Salvation Army has also run the Red Shield Men’s Hostel, which was developed to house 24 individual living units for vulnerable men in 2020.

Bike equation adds up for Adelaide City Salvos

By Cliff Worthing Now here’s an equation: What does 800km x 8 days x 8 men on a bicycle fundraiser equal? The answer is $17,000 towards Adelaide City Salvos’ Red Shield Appeal target.

Corps Officer Captain Shane Healey said a team of six riders and two support crew set off on 1 May, riding through the South Australian countryside to raise money and build relationships.

“We got plenty of toots and waves on the way,” he said.

People also stopped them to donate; however, most of the money raised was donated online.

The funds will go towards the corps’ drop-in centre,

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Shane Healey, Richard Trewren, Gary Carnell, Mark Gray, John Lepley, Glen Badenhop, Ray Mundy and Dean Martin.

which is open five days a week for community members struggling with homelessness and other vulnerabilities.

“Basically, the ride was eight blokes together, with all the highs and lows, but also the quiet times, to discuss our faith journey,” Shane said. “Relationships were definitely strengthened.”

June 2022

Westesrtnralia Au

DIVISIONAL NEWS

Creating a safe space for men in Subiaco

By Jessica Morris

Something sacred happens when men talk about real-life struggles and victories. The Salvation Army in Perth is giving men this opportunity every fortnight when a group called ‘Just Men’ gathers at The Third Place in Subiaco.

Led by The Third Place Mission Leader Major Lyn Jones and facilitator Steve Archibald, the group gathers and talks about mental health, addiction, relationship breakdown and more.

“I’ve struggled with mental health for three to four years, and I was fortunate to find support groups that helped me to process what was going on,” shares Steve, who is also Partnerships Manager for a youth mental health charity called zero2hero. “Coming out of that and knowing it had helped me, [Just Men] was something I wanted to do.”

Every second Tuesday, Lyn sets up the hall, and Steve gathers with a group of six to 10 men. Sitting in a circle, they take turns and talk about their lives.

“They share about a new job; not communicating well with their partner; about struggling with friendships in social circles; drinking too much,” Steve said. “Lyn helps out by providing coffee and cake, and we sit down and informally process what we’ve discussed.”

As a recruitment manager and speaker, Steve first encountered The Third Place several years ago when he met Lyn through a mutual friend. He became an advisory member on The Third Place board and in conversation brought up his eagerness to start a men’s group. Straight away, Lyn knew they had the space to fill the need. She also sees its potential as a faith pathway – and that’s where fellowship over a slice of cake plays such a vital role.

“God has opened up opportunities for me to talk to most of the guys because I serve them tea and coffee and cake at the end of their session,” explains Lyn. “They ask questions like, ‘How do you survive? How do you get through?’ So, I tell them it’s all about a relationship with God.” The beauty of Just Men and its partnership with The Salvation Army is that participants have the opportunity to holistically take stock of every area of their lives. When faith and spirituality inevitably come up in conversation, Lyn can others.org.au

Steve Archibald (left), Major Lyn Jones, and Just Men co-facilitator Stefan Woroglian.

share her life experience with the men. And irrespective of what they believe, the key is to build authentic relationships with them, just like Jesus did while on the earth.

“This is the way that we do it because most people won’t just walk into a church service anymore. [Just Men] is a way of connecting with where they are at, which is a very vulnerable place because [culturally men] are not used to sharing how they are feeling,” Lyn said.

Still in its early days, Just Men can only grow and flourish from here. For Lyn, this means praying that male Salvationists feel comfortable joining the group and sharing their lived experiences. As for Steve, he is pouring all his energy into giving these men a safe space to belong.

“One of the biggest things that comes out of [Just Men] is that they recognise they are not alone in what they are dealing with,” he said. “There is a feeling that there’s camaraderie. Here’s a community of men that like to be able to get together and process [life] in a healthy way.”

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SALVATION STORY

A clean milestone worth celebrating

By Dean Simpson David Oliver, a former ice addict, is 58 years old, but he’ll proudly tell you that he’s just celebrated his 20th birthday.

“I didn’t actually turn 20 ... it was my 20th birthday in recovery ... 20 years of being clean. So, I had a party with 20 people at my mum and dad’s place,” he says. “I was severely depressed and addicted to drugs for 22 years, but I finally sought help from The Salvation Army, found God, and I’m still going strong. I reckon that’s worth celebrating.”

David says he invited family and friends who had been pivotal in his recovery from a drug and alcohol-fuelled existence earlier in his life. “I gave a little speech and told them that I wouldn’t be here without them.”

In 2001, David’s parents, Noel and Margaret, were at their wit’s end with their son’s addictions and desperately reached out to Envoy Jayne Wilson, who ran The Salvation Army First Floor family support program at Wollongong Corps on the NSW South Coast.

They told Jayne their son had fallen into a drug and alcohol culture almost from the day he started work at 15 as an

Territorial Commander Commissioner Robert Donaldson National Secretary for Communications / Editor-in-Chief Lieut-Colonel Neil Venables Publications Manager Cheryl Tinker Assistant Editor Faye Michelson

Staff writers Jessica Morris Dean Simpson Contributors Merv Collins Doug Davis Garth R. Hentzschel Phil Inglis Lauren Martin Cliff Worthing Rod Yule Graphic designer Ryan Harrison

Others is a quarterly publication of The Salvation Army in Australia. Others is printed by Focus Print Group, 25 Arctic Court, Keysborough, Vic 3173, Australia.

Print post approved PP236902/00023 Member, Australasian Religious Press Association.

All Bible references are quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise stated.

General enquiries: others@salvationarmy.org.au

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apprentice at the Port Kembla steelworks. A few years later, he married a woman who shared his destructive lifestyle. They had two children.

Through his addictive lifestyle, David eventually lost his marriage, family, home, a job with a company car, and respect – both that of himself and others.

“Mum and Dad had had enough,” he recalls “They were attending the Salvos and Dad said my only hope was to go and see Jayne. And that’s when my life started to change.”

After initial counselling, David agreed to participate in the Army’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation program at William Booth House in Sydney. It was here that he took his first major step to recovery. “There was a sign on the wall that said: ‘Let Go and Let God’. So, I did ... I let him take charge from that point on,” David remembers.

After a few weeks at William Booth House, David continued rehabilitation at Miracle Haven, a Salvation Army farm on the NSW Central Coast. He graduated 10 months later.

June 2022 others.org.au General Brian Peddle

David Oliver (centre) with his parents Noel and Margaret.

When he left Miracle Haven in 2003, he attended Berkeley Corps (in Wollongong’s south) until that closed, and he started attending a nearby Church of Christ. Twenty years later, David still attends that church, playing guitar in the band and being a member of the men’s group.

He says the past 20 years “hasn’t been a bed of roses ... I’ve gone through quite a few ups and downs. I had another relationship breakdown, been in crisis accommodation for a time and been out of work.” But he says he prays every day, reads his Bible, and has a strong relationship with his two adult children.

“My faith in God, the help I got from the Salvos, and the adversity I’ve faced in life have strengthened my resolve to stay clean. Praise God.”

Scan QR code for more transformation stories on Others.org.au.

June 2022